Grant funding helps Western Wayne schools

More than $4 million has come into the Western Wayne school system during the three years of increased effort to seek out grant funding, according to a report shared with the school board on Sept. 11. Nearly three-fourths of that has been won on the strength of competitive grant applications submitted by the school corporation.

In his report of grant funding since the 2021-22 school year, Chad Lieberman divided grants into two types: competitive and noncompetitive. Nearly all grant funding requires schools to apply for money. The noncompetitive ones are guaranteed to any who qualify. Competitive grants, though, are awarded based on the strength of the application submitted. That requires finding sources of funding, evaluating what kinds of projects could qualify for the money, and submitting an application with documentation that makes a strong case for why the funding would qualify. Then, the funding organization evaluates the applications and chooses those it believes deserve money.

Lieberman came to work as Western Wayne’s grant specialist during the 2021-22 school year, working as an assistant to Superintendent Andy Stover, who previously held a similar position in another school district.

Grant money has allowed the schools to hire specialists or continue funding work such as that done by the Communities In Schools resource specialists at each school building.

The largest, a STEM Integration Grant, is providing $2.24 million for a teacher and materials for Project Lead the Way. It has provided training for a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teacher to become a certified PLTW trainer for other classroom teachers.

A few other examples: 

• Stronger Connections, $258,000, allowed for creation of a counseling position at Western Wayne Elementary School. That position is now an assistant principal.
• Student Learning Recovery Grant, $30,904.70, pays teachers for after-school tutoring of students who have fallen behind in their work. 
• EARN Indiana Grant, $7,166.68, provides compensation for students in the Work-Based Learning program and provides funds for tools, boots and related supplies for low-income WBL students. 
• Drug Free Wayne County grant, $2,000, helped pay for the 2024 prom and a $500 grant from Whitewater Valley REMC helped pay for afterprom.

In other business, the board announced its schedule for collective bargaining with teachers. Formal bargaining was to start Sept. 15 and a signed agreement is expected by Nov. 15.

The board conducted a public hearing on its 2025 budget as well as updates to the capital projects plan and bus replacement plan. No one from the public commented.

The board approved the following personnel actions.

• Noncertified staff: Montana Barnes, Lincoln Middle/High School instructional assistant; Miranda Grimm, special education instructional assistant; Tricia Stapleton, Western Wayne Elementary School instructional assistant; Angela Boyd, WWES special education instructional assistant; Tommy Hampton, LMHS bowling coach.
• Coaching: Josh Carver, LMS assistant football coach; Bryce Smith, seventh grade boys basketball coach.
• Appointment: Traci Linde to LMHS leadership team.

The board’s next regular meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, in room 80 at LMHS, 205 Parkway Drive. The public may attend.