The Straight A Fund Governing Board on June 20 recommended 34 innovative and cost-effective grants for funding in fiscal year 2015. The recommended grantees estimate savings and spending reductions of $246.7 million over five years, according to Ohio Department of Education.
The Ohio Controlling Board will give its final approval July 28 for the more than $141 million in projects, according to ODE.
The Ross Local School District is expected to receive $949,987 from the Straight A Fund to support the purchase of 1,854 Chromebooks that will be used by 1,750 students in grades five through 12, as well as their 104 teachers, said Jayne Neufarth, district library media specialist.
Neufarth said the hope is to prepare students for college and career through the use of innovative digital resources.
The grant funds will also support professional development for teachers and an upgrade to the district’s wireless network, said Superintendent Greg Young.
“We’re very excited about moving away from an antiquated instructional process, and preparing students to learn and succeed in the 21st century,” Young said. “This device is eventually going to replace textbooks for the students.”
As part of the Straight A Fund grant, Ross Local Schools are partnering with the University of Cincinnati Evaluation Services Center to track the program’s success.
Young said the district is poised to save $735,520 over the next five years as a result of spending less on textbooks, copying costs and printer maintenance.
Also set to receive a Straight A Fund grant, the Butler County Educational Service Center has been recommended for $718,147 to support the development of a consortium between the ESC, Talawanda City Schools, Madison Local Schools, Monroe Local Schools and Miami University.
The consortium would work to enhance curriculum options for nearly 200 students by building a technology program that can be used in the participating districts, according to ODE.
Jon Graft, superintendent of Butler County ESC, said the funds would be used to purchase an online program called Zulama that incorporates game design and game theory into classes and curriculum in order to engage the student learners.
“The whole purpose is about student engagement and getting kids inspired by real-world opportunities they could go to for employment,” Graft said.
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