Cortland Schools In Line For Challenge Grant

McGraw Central and Cortland City School Districts are two of several rural schools to get grants from the state senate through the Rural Education Advisory Committee, Senator James L. Seward said today.

McGraw will receive $1,700 for its "Historical Living Museum" project, which will allow 8th grade students to apply research and biographical writing techniques along with oral presentation skills. Students will study the contributions and talents of certain historical characters and their impact on the development of the nation.

Cortland is in line for $ 2,500 to help fund its "BE REAL" (Responsible citizens, Educationally sound, Agency collaborators, Linked to the community) program, which provides after school activities with the Virgil Youth Commission for students who need assistance with homework. Community service and interaction with seniors will be incorporated into the program.

"The senate funding helps provide targeted programs for students in our rurals," Senator Seward said. "It flows from the work of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, which has a specific mandate to develop policies and identify solutions to problems faced by rural communities."

Twenty seven innovative instructional projects were selected out of the 43 applications submitted by rural school districts. The maximum award for each project is $2,500, which must be matched by local contributions. The goal of the awards is to support enhanced educational opportunities for students and families in deserving rural schools.

The committee was created in 1990 and the grants are funded by the state senate in the current state budget.