Budgets for schools are tight and they are always looking for more resources to provide unique and challenging programming for students, facility improvements or professional development opportunities for administration and students. One of those resources is to write grants from federal, state and corporate partners.

I was very active during my career as a superintendent in writing grants. I was successful in obtaining over $3 million in grant dollars for my districts throughout my career.

Washington County Schools are fortunate that we have The Washington County Riverboat Foundation, who has been a great partner in providing grant opportunities to the schools and we are thankful to them. The Highland Community School District continues to seek out and successfully apply for grants beyond what is provided by the Riverboat Foundation. I will highlight three grants the district has received in the last few weeks and what they will do for the students of Highland.

Bill Zywiec successful applied and received a grant from the US Department of Education, Rural Achievement Grant. It was a $41,892 award.  The district will receive funds to purchase 135 Chromebooks and cases for sixth, seventh and eighth graders. The district received these Chromebooks in mid-December, and they will be distributed to students after the winter break.

The need for these computers has become obvious during the time when the district has needed to provide online instruction.  With the addition of these 135 Chromebooks, the district will be one-to-one in grades 6-12, meaning that every student has access to their own computer at any time.

Kate Giannini, the Washington County Soil Commissioner, wrote and received a $2,500 grant on behalf of the district from the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District Grant. These funds will be used to form a partnership and collaborate with Highland’s FFA students on a waterways project. Components include: A watershed educational program to increase student’s environmental awareness, installation of creek signs that identify the English River and Davis Creek and naming a nameless tributary to the English River just east of Riverside. Gianinnini hopes this partnership will become a larger countywide program.

Derick Ball, the secondary guidance counselor, was successful in applying for and being awarded a $9,694 grant from the Southwest Iowa Link Mental Health and Disability Services. These funds will be used to provide resources towards mental and emotional health. These funds were made available through COVID-19 and the Mental Health/Mental Wellbeing Cares Act Funds. Mental health services have always been an area of need for school districts.

I applaud the efforts of staff for continuing to seek out and take the time to write out grant applications on behalf of the district. The beneficiaries are the students of the Highland Community School District, who will receive opportunities beyond what is provided through district level funds. Thanks to these providers as well as the continuing support we receive from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation to expand opportunities for our students and staff.