RED CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AWARDED $388,259 READING FIRST GRANT
February 19, 2004
The Red Creek Central School
District has been awarded a federally funded, 3-year, Reading First grant
totaling $388,259, according to an announcement today from Superintendent of
Schools David G. Sholes. The purpose of the grant is to improve and expand the
district’s reading program for grades K-3 at the Cuyler Elementary School, and
to provide additional reading resources for all Kindergarten through 12th
grade students who receive Special Education services.
“We are very excited to have
the opportunity to significantly expand, coordinate, and develop new reading
programs to meet the diverse needs of all young readers at the elementary
level, as well as for all the district’s students who are identified with
disabilities,” Superintendent Sholes said. “The grant will provide the district
much needed financial assistance to purchase the most current, scientifically
based reading materials, hire additional reading teachers and reading support
staff, and allow all Kindergarten through 3rd grade classroom
teachers more time each day to teach and reinforce reading basics,” Mr. Sholes
explained.
“This underscores the
community’s commitment, including parents, the school board, district
administrators, teachers, support staff, and the Red Creek Teachers’
Association, to work together to improve the reading abilities of all our
students.” Mr. Sholes cited the
outstanding efforts of the Reading First Grant Design Team, in particular the
Reading Specialists and elementary teachers led by Cuyler School Principal
Lynda Sereno, who successfully coordinated a grant application which was
awarded funding. To receive the competitive grant the team developed a
district-wide Reading First program and completed a comprehensive application
in less than one month’s time.
Reading First grants were
only awarded to 48 schools across New York State based upon the strength of the
application and are funded through new federal education legislation, No Child
Left Behind, in coordination with the New York State Education Department.