CC/E Elementary lands $116K grant

Clay Central/Everly officials on Monday had a reason to celebrate.

The Iowa Department of Education announced the district was one of 67 schools to earn a Learning Beyond the Bell grant. CC/E's total haul was worth $116,215.

"It is a rather comprehensive grant," said CC/E Director of Student Services Michelle Huntress. "We are very excited!"

According to the department of education, the grant's goal is to expand and sustain high-quality before-and-after school programs that support families and advance student achievement in partnership with community organizations. Huntress said CC/E will use the grant award in five phases.

First, CC/E must use the funds to help close or reduce the achievement gap by expanding its before- and after-school programs to include tutoring sessions. Certified teachers will be paid out of the grant to meet with individual children or small groups in the areas of math and reading three days each week in the regular school year, and during the summer school program.

Second, CC/E must pay a Beyond the Bell program director so he or she can increase opportunities for families to engage in learning experiences outside of the school walls.

"CC/E will be able to invite families on summer and evening field trips to places like Getting's Gardens, Jones' Dairy Farm, local libraries, the Dickinson County Fish Hatchery, and other places within driving distances," Huntress explained. "We will be able to provide families with books about some of the topics we study on these field trips to build important background knowledge and vocabulary in our young learners."

Third, CC/E plans to expand offerings in family socialization and engagement events such as its Daddy/Daughter Dance, Read Around the School events, and Leader In Me community engagement events.

"Helping families connect with one another across our district can support the development of friendships and support networks across the district," said Huntress. "Those connections can improve attendance and the overall well-being of our students, which allows them to set and achieve goals for themselves."

Next, Huntress said expanding opportunities before and after school will enable CC/E to equip youth with essential life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and emotional regulation. The school already utilizes the Leader In Me program, which teaches the seven habits of highly-effective people.

"Programs that focus on skill-building contribute to youths' academic success, employability and overall well-being," she said. "Through the service learning and building-level student leadership roles, our students now have a voice in shaping practices and solving problems. Giving all students access to services during the Beyond the Bell program increases the time and opportunity to apply those key practices to individual goal setting and goal attainment through self-improvement."

The last stage of the grant will allow CC/E's before and after school childcare program to purchase a new interactive technology tool that projects games onto the floor or ceiling of large rooms, which lets children learn through movement and hands-on interactive social games. CC/E also plans to purchase a Science of Reading decodable book collection and other resources that align with LETRS training staff members have engaged in for two years.

"All of these materials can be used during the Beyond the Bell program, but will also be available to teachers and students during the regular school day as well," said Huntress. "It's truly a win/win."

Beyond the Bell award amounts were determined based on alignment with grant objectives and the expenditures outlined in each applicant's budget proposal, up to a maximum of $200,000 per school. Allowable uses of funds include costs related to staffing, evidence-based interventions in math and/or reading, tutoring and other activities to advance student achievement, transportation and snacks and meals that meet federal nutrition guidelines.

Other area schools that received Beyond the Bell grants include Alta-Aurelia, Emmetsburg, Kingsley-Pierson and Sibley-Ocheyedan. Grants will be distributed for district implementation this spring, summer and into the 2024-25 school year.