Clay Schools Awarded $1.7M In Innovative Schools Grant Funding

Clay County Schools awarded some $1.7 million through the state-issued Innovated Schools grant.

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. School Board Chair Benji Bailey said they plan to invest the four-year grant into career readiness in particular.

“In year one, one of the biggest pieces will be the facility at the high school and that will hopefully be a multi-use facility that we plan to build,” Bailey said. “That our kids can hopefully utilize to support this program and to support their efforts to be career-ready.”

Bailey said they also plan on looking at what they can do at other schools and their existing facilities. He said that can possibly explore adding on to or even building out more spaces at the other schools.

Bailey said the school board is excited about the opportunity this funding can bring to Clay County students. He said it can also help operations on various levels that are already in place in the system.

“And also, this funding can help take the burden off of our taxpayers and even from our school budget itself,” Bailey said. “So we’re really excited about the funding and the opportunities it brings all the way around.”