Salem Community School nabbed $75k out of a $2.2. million tech grant awarded to 32 school districts around the state.
This grant supports corporations in providing professional development, developing content and expectations, creating avenues for parent and student communication, as well as purchasing devices.
Salem’s grant application was directed by Director of Information Technology, Erin Humphrey, and presented by the leadership team of Deb Wrye, SMS Social Studies Teacher, Jon David Wade-Swift, SMS Technology Teacher, Derek Smith, SHS Principal and Lynn Reed, SCS Superintendent.
SCS will use the $75,000 grant to:
- offer multiple levels of professional development that will allow staff to grow in their level of comfort and expertise with available digital resources as well as encourage them to seek out new ones;
- encourage collaboration and curation of digital content by providing stipends for out-of-school work; and
- design a new learning space for student engagement.
Salem’s award letter stated:
“Your district presented a proposal that evidences strong leadership, a focused vision for digital learning, a sound plan for implementation, and the support, resources, and capacity to make it happen. As a Digital Learning Grant awardee your district will provide a model for others around the state in regard to digital age teaching and learning.”
“This was a competitive selection process and I congratulate these school districts,” said Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I am confident they will use these dollars wisely, making a significant impact on learning for all students.”Sixty-four districts applied for this year’s grants.
Thirty-two districts were successful in pitching their proposals, totaling $2,342,664. This is an increase of eleven grants and an additional $467,664 over last year’s awards. Awarded grant amounts ranged from $35,000 to $75,000.
The 2017 Digital Learning Grant awardees include:
Barr-Reeve Community School
Batesville Community School Corporation
Brown County Schools
CSC of Southern Hancock County
Delaware Community School Corporation
East Allen County Schools
East Washington School Corporation
Elkhart Community School
Eminence Community Schools
Fayette County School Corporation
Jennings County School Corporation
La Porte Community School Corporation
Loogootee Community Schools
Maconaquah School Corporation
MSD of Decatur Township
MSD of Mt. Vernon
MSD of Steuben County
Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation
Northwest Allen County Schools
Portage Township Schools
Richland Bean-Blossom CSC
Salem Community Schools
Scott County School District 1
South Vermillion Community Schools
Southwest Dubois County Schools
Spencer-Owen Community Schools
Switzerland County School Corp
Tippecanoe School Corporation
Tipton Community Schools
Warsaw Community Schools
Wawasee Community School Corporation
Yorktown Community Schools
