The Clarke Central High School Local School Governance Team will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 18 to discuss the apportionment of the Innovation Grant funding. The school received upwards of $33,000 as part of the district-funded grant last year, and while some money has already been spent, what to do with the rest of the funds is up for discussion. “Once team members throw out ideas when (we) discuss pros and cons, and come to consensus, whether we agree with them or not, it’s a team decision and I just move forward with it,” Principal and LSGT Co-chair Dr. Swade Huff said. “It should not allow them to have one person.” Photo by Wyatt Meyer
The CCHS Local School Governance Team will discuss how to allocate recent Innovation Grant funding at their next meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.
The Clarke Central High School Local School Governance Team has been tasked with allocating Innovation Grant funding at their 5:30 p.m. meeting on Sept. 18.
CCHS’ LSGT, a school governing body co-chaired by Principal Dr. Swade Huff, is made up of teachers, staff, parents, guardians and community members, and serves to make recommendations and decisions regarding administrative tasks within CCHS.
One of these tasks is to apportion the Innovation Grant fund, an annual pot of money totaling just above $30,000, is given by the CCSD to constituent schools after a process whereby LSGTs submit an application detailing what they wish to spend their money on. According to Huff, the Innovation Grant funding gives the administration the chance to spend on subjects not permitted by the school’s allocation of Title 1 funding.
“(Innovative Grant funding) gives us flexibility,” Huff said. “We’ve definitely seen the (morale) impact of not just school spirit projects, but the restorative (impact) as well within our learning community.”
According to Huff, the upcoming meeting will deal with what to apply for when the deadline for the 2023-2024 funding comes in the winter as well as what to do with the last remaining pot of money from last year’s fund – some of which has already been spent on trophy cases and hallway signage.
“Sometimes, you have to toot your own horn. That was an area where I felt like, and not just me, our Local School Governance Team members wanted to accent more of our student accomplishments,” Huff said.
A trophy case displaying artwork by Clarke Central High School students stands on the Freshman Academy. According to Principal and Local School Governance Team Co-chair Dr. Swade Huff, the new trophy cases are part of a larger effort by the CCHS LSGT to improve school spirit, and by extension, school climate. “With the school spirit projects that we’re (unable) to get (with Title I grants), the crest and the “C” symbol within the school itself, (Innovative Grant funding) gives us flexibility,” Huff said.“It’s been very, very vital with the improvement in our school climate.” Photo by Aza Khan
The remainder can be spent on a variety of school improvements, such as campus beautification, which is a priority for CCHS freshman Jeremiah Taylor.
“The scenery could be better, how it looks outside could be better,” Taylor said. “It’ll probably draw more people’s attention, probably make people want to come, especially as the academics and all the classes are actually good.”
While the LSGT is seeking input from the public on what to do with future money, Huff says that the final decision will lie with the team.
“I know there’s a lot of teacher-students discussions in the building, so we’re always open to input from stakeholders,” Huff said. “(The public) can reach out to the LSGT if there’s a need but the discussions, input and final decision lies in the lap of the team.”
