Putnam Schools Slated For $5M Innovative School Model Grant

Putnam County Schools slated to get a $5 million Innovative Schools Model grant from the state.

The grant program aims to build readiness and prepare students for success after high school through increasing CTE, work-based learning, and industry credential opportunities. CTE Supervisor Dr. Leslie Eldridge presented a four-year plan to Putnam School Board Members about how she plans to spend that money.

“It’s not new but I think we’re just increasing that awareness for our CTE teachers,” Eldridge said. “To know that their job is to prepare their student in the classroom to have something to walk out the door to go to work if they’re not going to a university, a community college. So that’s our goal.”

There are spending plans in place for Upperman Middle School, Algood Middle School, and all three high schools. Eldridge said general plans include professional development and upgrading learning tools. She presented specific examples such as building a barn at Upperman High School and a greenhouse at Monterey High School to increase the resources for those types of programs.

Eldridge said as the grant spending is implemented to enhance these programs, one of the most important things with this program is to increase awareness of what each school has to offer for career exploration programs. She said in 2020, there were only 80 students involved. As of this year, there are over 300 students participating in work-based learning, as a result of increased awareness and more direct communications from counselors.

“We’re selling programs here,” School Board Member Lynn McHenry said, “We need to make sure our students know what we’re seeing. We can have a great program but if students don’t have all the information (…) It’s even more important for our CTE, but it’s true for all our kids at that stage in 8th grade when they are trying to figure out where they’re going, years ago, they come out and say here are some of your options and so many of them we didn’t even know (…) The parents knowing or not really doesn’t matter, but the kids have to know to make an educated decision on what program they want to go to.”

Eldridge said what gets them excited is how much they can expand programs and opportunities for their students. She said eventually, they’d like to implement more programs at more schools.