Districts get fed grant funding

By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer

After failing for two years to secure federal funding for an afterschool program for middle-grade students, Farrell and Sharon schools retooled the application a year ago and secured state funding.

With the end of the state money in sight, the schools again tried for federal funds — and succeeded.

The schools said Wednesday they have been awarded $505,736 over three years from the 21st Century Community Learning Center program. They will not have to reapply each year but will have to show that they’ve met outcomes set by the federal government to get the next year’s funding, said Kathleen S. Feeney, Farrell’s grant writer.

The money will be used to expand the learning center programs created this year under a $204,000 state Educate America grant.

The learning centers have primarily focused on academics and technology, although teachers and aides looked for ways to inject some fun into the lessons. The new money will allow the programs to include recreation, cultural and arts activities, Mrs. Feeney said.

The Educate America program continues through the summer, and the new grant picks up with the start of the next year and also will feature summer hours.

Under the federal grant, the schools will be able to open activities to all students in grades four through eight. Participation was limited with Educate America to roughly a dozen students for each learning center.

“We’ll be able to include a lot more children,” Mrs. Feeney said. Farrell will keep its learning center at the elementary school. Sharon, which has three programs under Educate America will consolidate them at Musser Elementary.

During the school year, the learning centers will be open longer, up from 75 minutes to three hours Monday through Thursday, and family activities will be planned for one Saturday a month, said Dr. Donna M. DeBonis, Sharon’s supervisor of curriculum and instruction.

The districts lined up service agencies such as the Columbia Theatre, F.H. Buhl Club, Shenango Valley Community and Stey-Nevant Public libraries, Nick Gracenin’s Martial Arts Center, Shenango Valley YMCA, Thiel College in Greenville, Penn Lakes Girl Scouts Council, Sharon Regional Health System and UPMC Horizon Health System to offer programs at the learning centers and other sites. Activities could include baby-sitting classes, soccer, parenting classes, nutrition and swimming, and students will make frequent field trips, Dr. DeBonis said.

The targeted grades were picked to help students make the transition into heavier content grades, and then into high school, she said.

“It’s a nice transition from one grade level to another,” she said.

Back to TOP // Herald Local news // Local news headlines // Herald Home page

Questions/comments: online@sharon-herald.com
For info about advertising on our site or Web-site creation: advertising@sharon-herald.com

012700

FARRELL, SHARON, WHEATLAND

Districts get fed grant funding

FARRELL, SHARON,WHEATLAND