Reidland Elementary approved to receive 21st Century grant

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By David B. Snow dsnow@paducahsun.com

The McCracken County School District board approved the receipt of a 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant on behalf of Reidland Elementary School at its meeting Thursday.

The grant is for $675,000 to be spread over five years, an average of $135,000 per year.

NOTE: RES will receive $150,000 in each of the first three years, $125,000 the 4th year and $100,000 the 5th year.

"This is going to be our eighth school to get this grant," said MCSD grant writer Genevieve Postlethwait. "It's from the state, and it's part of a federal grant. In Kentucky, they focus on before- and after-school academic and enrichment programs, so they offer things like tutoring, mostly for reading and math.

"It's half academic tutoring and enrichments and half clubs and activities that are educational."

The grant will [begin in] the 2018-19 school year.

Postlethwait said last year only four 21st Century grants were issued in Kentucky, and Lone Oak Middle School got one. This year, 16 [new] grants were awarded.

Other actions taken at the meeting included:

• The board approved changes to the school calendar that were proposed at its work session meeting on March 12. The board approved a 174-day calendar for McCracken County High School and a 175-day calendar for all other schools. Snow days will be made up on May 21, 23 and 24, with graduation set for 7:30 p.m. May 25 at Marquette Stadium. In case of inclement weather, the graduation ceremony will be held May 26.

• The board approved two documents related to the construction of the new Lone Oak Middle School.

The next scheduled board meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. April 19.