Our libraries in the Heavener school system have been given a great grant. These grants have bought new books and new supplies for the libraries and in-class libraries. This type of grant will support reading in many different age levels in our school system for years to come.
Janie Hairrell is the lady with all the answers about the grant itself and how it is helping our school so far, she states that the Oklahoma State Department Of Education opened a very competitive grant called Oklahoma Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grant. Only the eligible schools are allowed to apply for the grant. Heavener was one of the very fortunate to score well enough on the application to be awarded this spectacular grant that can provide the much-needed funds. “Funds through this grant will provide a supplemental reading teacher, professional development, computers, classroom libraries, bookshelves, and parent involvement. Funds will also be used for ESSA approved reading curriculum and web-based reading intervention programs,” says Hairrell.
Mrs. Lynch the librarian here at the high school states “ We can't use it for movies or salary but we can buy a few new shelves for teacher classroom libraries. There is also some money for professional development for reading.”
This is the first time that Heavener has received this particular grant and this is the first time it was available. We are just now starting the second year of this grant on the second cycle. Heavener Public Schools will receive $250,000 per year for three years. When asked if we will receive this grant again Janie said “ I don’t know if it will be offered again in the future.”
When I asked Janie Hairrell about how many books that have been purchased with this grant that we have been given she says “I don’t know how many books we have received through this grant. I can tell you that it is a lot.”
--Gracie Summers