Fiscal Responsibility
Grants are excellent resources for schools and districts because they encourage innovation and allow educators to provide enhanced opportunities and resources for learning. More importantly, grants allow school districts to build capacity within their own people by providing professional learning for teachers and experiences for students that may not be affordable without the additional funding. Mount Airy City Schools (MACS) has substantial experience managing multiple large-scale grants serving as the fiscal agent and primary facilitator of over $4 million in the last 3 years. MACS grant history with descriptions is listed below. If you have any questions regarding our grants and the fiscal management that supports our Teaching and Learning Team please contact Penny Willard, Director of Grants.
Grant: Math and Problem/Project-based Learning for Student Success (MAPSS)
Grant Cycle: 2015- 2018 (3 year grant)
Funding Source: Math and Science Partnership- MSP Grant (Federal Grant distributed through United States Department of Education and NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)
Approximate value: $2 million
Institute of High Education (IHE) Partners- Wake Forest University and the University of Texas at Dallas
Other School District Partners- Alamance Burlington School System, Davidson County Schools, Lexington City Schools,
Primary Focus of the Grant- The MAPSS MSP grant provided approximately 200 teachers with professional development that allowed them to learn how to facilitate learning in the inquiry-based learning environment, which included implementation of problem/project-based learning cases in the area of math.
Grant: 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC)
Grant Cycle: 2017- 2020 (3 year grant)
Funding Source: Federal Grant distributed through United States Department of Education and NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)
Approximate value: $1.3 million
Primary Focus of the Grant- The 21st Century grant is also known as Future Leaders Academy (FLA) across our district. This programming provides our students in Kindergarten through 8th grade daily access to after-school programming within their school. Through great community partnerships we are able to provide our FLA students access to enrichment activities from the Surry Arts Council, the Mount Airy Public Library, the Surry County Health and Nutrition Center and certified fitness trainer, Kaitlin Isaacs. Students also have access to certified teachers for homework help and access to iReady for personalized online learning supports. In addition, the 21st grant provides transportation home every evening after FLA. One of the best components to our grant is the ability to provide summer academic and enrichment camps to our K-8 students. Our Summer of 2018 was phenomenal for both students and teachers because everyone was able to learn and grow together through innovative summer programming.
Grant: Career and Technical Education (CTE) Grade Expansion Program Grant
Grant Cycle: 2017-2018 school year
Funding Source: NC Education and Workforce Innovation Commission and NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)
Approximate value: $50,000 per year and renewable for 7 years with an overall value of $350,000
Primary Focus of the Grant- Through this grant MACS was able to provide a full-time Career Development Coordinator (CDC) for Mount Airy Middle School, serving students in 6th-8th grades and expanding those services traditionally only provided in the high school environment. MACS must provide opportunities for students to have conversations with a CDC that can foster positive relationships around CTE opportunities that may allow for careers that can be attained through multiple exit points upon completion of high school or through certificate, diploma or degree programs at Surry Community College.
Grant: Catalyzing Grant
Grant Cycle: 2017-2018 school year
Funding Source: NC Education and Workforce Innovation Commission and NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)
Approximate value: $25,000 per year and renewable for 7 years with an overall value of $350,000
Primary Focus of the Grant- Through this grant MACS was able to provide a full-time Career Development Coordinator (CDC) for Mount Airy Middle School, serving students in 6th-8th grades and expanding those services traditionally only provided in the high school environment. MACS must provide opportunities for students to have conversations with a CDC that can foster positive relationships around CTE opportunities that may allow for careers that can be attained through multiple exit points upon completion of high school or through certificate, diploma or degree programs at Surry Community College.
Grant: Student STEM Enrichment Program (SSEP) grant
Grant Cycle: 2017-2020
Funding Source: Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Approximate value: $60,000 per year and renewable for 3 years with an overall value of $180,000
Primary Focus of the Grant- Through this grant MACS was able to implement additional programming through our partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Mr. Garrett Howlett serves as the STEAM Lead Teacher for the district and oversees this partnership that allows for after-school clubs at both Mount Airy Middle School (MAMS) and Mount Airy High School (MAHS). In addition, this project allows MAHS to send students for semester long internships at RCR, as well as, teachers visiting the racing industry to gain insight into real world problem-solving that can be embedded into classroom lessons.
