This week, Evans School – opening this year as a K-6 school – became the second school in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation to receive a federal school 1003(g) improvement grant for $1.9 million a year which is renewable for three years. Evans is one of five schools throughout the state to receive the grant.
“This is great news for students here at Evans,†said Brynn Kardash, Evans principal. “We have worked to create a transformational model that will enhance educational opportunities for our students and provide them with new experiences, all in hopes of furthering their success here at Evans and in the future.â€
Evans will be indentified as a Transformational Model School site under the grant which will provide opportunities for the school to focus on increased, intentionally-aligned supports; research-based curriculum and instructional practices; student leadership development; and core learning experiences for students that will allow them to engage in hands-on learning opportunities outside the general classroom setting. The grant also will support the development of early childhood educational opportunities for area families.
Some of the new opportunities families and students will see at Evans include Lego Engineering/Robotics, iPads, additional software for classroom use, digital portfolios and more. In addition, the school will hire additional staff including an assistant principal, two preschool teachers and assistants and a family outreach coordinator.
Evans joins Glenwood Leadership Academy as the second school in the EVSC to receive the grant. Glenwood, who received the grant in Summer 2010, received approval to continue with a second year of funding.
With additional funding, Glenwood will be able to continue offering additional opportunities, including project-based learning, additional field trips, in-school MacBooks, Promethean interactive whiteboards in classrooms and more.
According to Carrie Hillyard, EVSC director of Title Schools, the 1003 (g) improvement grants’ purpose is to transform schools in need. Both Evans and Glenwood were identified by the state based on three years of ISTEP data. “This grant affords both schools an opportunity to truly transform their schools,†Hillyard said. “We hope to see dramatic differences in the ways students are being taught, what they do in the classroom, student success and much more.â€
Dan Ulrich, EVSC chief academic officer, said the grants awarded at both schools incorporate intentionally aligned partnerships, including some local community partners such as Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, Leadership Evansville, Dream Center, and Youth First, Inc. “By working with community agencies and other partners, we are able to leverage services of an entire community, not just those that are offered at our schools to the benefit of our students.â€
Glenwood and Evans were chosen from Indiana schools identified statewide as those having the LOWEST academic achievement for a long time. The EVSC should be embarrassed have qualified TWICE in as many years for this program.
These kids don’t need more field trips, technology toys and Promethean whiteboards. They need more concentration on the basics.
You can throw money at education until the cows come home, but it won’t do any good if the kids can’t read, write, reason and understand the math problems put before them.
My sentiments exactly. Let’s cut to the chase. Will this money improve students’ skills in reading, writing, and/or arithmetic? Or will this bring to mind the wise words of Randy Newman, “…went in dumb, came out dumb too.”
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