UTICA — The North Fork school board on Monday learned the high school has received three major grants. The Boeing Co.’s gift match program donated $1,250 to the high school, the Utica FFA received a $3,000 Youth Development grant, and the high school also received a $10,000 Race to the Top Advanced Placement grant.
FFA advisor Steve Priest said the youth development grant is from the National FFA and USDA-Rural Youth Development.
“This our third year for a Living to Serve Grant through this program,” he continued. “We will be focusing on getting students active and actively involving students through the National Archery in the Schools Program. The FFA youth will assist and mentor younger students, along with adult volunteers through after school programs in order to foster involvement. The National Archery in the Schools Program incorporates academics as well as archery for students.”
To earn the advanced placement grant, said High School Principal Mark Bowman, the school had to write a justification for the need for more advanced placement classes at Utica.
“With only three courses offered [AP calculus, AP English 11 and AP English 12] we are far behind where we need to be,” Bowman said. “This grant will help our students in many areas, but one of the main benefits is the possibility for college credit. I hope this to be a direct help to our community’s parents’ wallets.”
In outlining what the money will be used for, Bowman said, “The rigors of an AP course is demanding on our students, however it is quite hard on the teachers as well. There is intensive training for the teachers involved, along with many hours of syllabus writing, curricular details, and class planning. The money will be used for professional development for the teachers involved, books, educational materials needed for the courses and incentive programs to be determined by the teacher.
“With any luck we will have the courses chosen and the teacher for that course on board by the end of the month. We are very excited about this opportunity for our students here at Utica High School.”
Treasurer Jack McDonald told the News on Wednesday the rest of the meeting was routine.
Regarding personnel, the board accepted a letter of resignation from bus driver Amy Cooper, retroactive to Nov. 9. It also hired Adam Reynolds as a groundskeeper, effective Nov. 28, approved the certified substitute list, issued a number of supplemental/extra service contracts and accepted Lee Ann Renner and Laura Moore as volunteers for the 2011-12 school year.
In other action, the board approved routine fiscal actions and reports, passed a resolution in support of the teaching of financial literacy and college readiness in grades seven and eight and adopted the special education model policies and procedures.
Prior to adjournment, the board went into executive session to discuss personal, property and matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or state statutes.
No further action was taken.
The next regular meeting of the North Fork Local Schools Board of Education will be held in Utica Elementary School on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
