Lafayette County schools receive two grants totaling more than $4.6 million

Mayo Free Press

July 26, 2006

Lafayette County Schools Superintendent Fred Ward received notice on Wednesday, July 12, that the school district had been awarded the Safe School/Healthy Students Initiative and the 21st Century Learning Centers Grants.

The Safe School/Healthy Students Initiative was awarded to 19 school districts in 14 states as part of a joint effort by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice to support schools in creating safe learning environments that promote healthy childhood development and prevent youth violence and drug use. Lafayette County schools will receive each year almost $954,000 for three years.

The highly competitive grant program, known as the Safe School/Healthy Students Initiative, attracted 485 applications nationally.

According to Superintendent Ward our school district partnered with local law enforcement, juvenile justice and mental health agencies to implement a comprehensive plan focused on six elements including safe school environments, mental health treatment services, and early childhood emotional development programs in the grant. This grant will provide students with enhanced access to services and programs that will help them make the most of their educational potential.

The second award, the 21st Century Learning Center Program is a five year grant for over $354,000 per year. It will provide academic, artistic, and cultural enrichment opportunities to students and their families when school is not in session. Through this grant, Superintendent Ward said that the School District will strive to improve academic performance, enhance technology skills of the students, parents and community, improve physical fitness levels of the students, parents, and community, reduce the drop-out rate, reduce acts of violence, crime, and other adverse behaviors.

Superintendent Ward said that he commends the hard work of all of the partners and especially Betina Hurst and Becky Sharpe for writing the grant.