Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) announced that Communities in Schools of Caldwell County will receive a $192,237 grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The initial allotment of $192,237 is expected to continue for three years, representing an overall investment of over $576,000 in Caldwell County Schools.

“It’s great to see this funding coming to Caldwell County,” said Congressman McHenry.  “This program will be a tremendous asset to the students of Caldwell County, and I’m pleased that the Department of Education agreed with me when I asked them to invest in it.  I know Debbie Eller put a lot of effort into this, and she should be commended for her hard work on behalf of our students.”

“Education is the key to economic success.  To continue rebuilding the economy in Western North Carolina, we’ve got to make sure that our students get a solid educational foundation, and this funding will help ensure they get it.”

Communities in Schools of Caldwell County will use the funding to create after-school programs at Colletsville Elementary, Happy Valley Elementary, Kings Creek Accelerated Elementary, and Oak Hill Elementary.  In addition to mentoring, the program will provide students with character education, life skills training, and academic support.

“When I first heard that we got this amount of funding, I was kind of in shock,” said Communities In Schools of Caldwell County Executive Director Debbie Eller. 

“It will be great for students to have this mentoring program available to them.  I’m really excited about what this means for the children and their families.  The academic support will give our students a boost, and the program will provide families with a safe, constructive after-school environment for their kids.”

As the head of the Communities in Schools program, Eller pursued the funding through the Department of Education’s Mentoring Program, which is a competitive grant program that funds local educational agencies and non-profit community-based organizations that promote school-based mentoring programs.  To receive the funding, applicants must serve children in need in grades four through eight who reside in rural areas or troubled environments.

Congressman McHenry’s staff was in communication with Eller as she worked to secure the grant, and on May 30, 2007, Congressman McHenry sent a letter to the Department of Education urging approval of Eller’s grant request.

In the letter, Congressman McHenry said, “I firmly believe the proposed program will increase academic achievement, improve interpersonal relationships of those that interact with the students, and decrease both the dropout rate and juvenile delinquency in a region that has experienced substantial economic distress and seen a marked increase in gang activity.”