PARKERSBURG - Administrators at VanDevender Middle School will be teaming with a local business leader to determine how best to spend a $75,000 state grant.
The three-year grant through the state Education Alliance requires the school to partner with a business leader and a former school administrator to help determine how the $25,000 a year will be spent.
"They picked us as one of five schools in the state to receive the grant money," said Steve Taylor, principal of Vandy. "There aren't a lot of restrictions on the funds. You are expected to team with a business mentor to collaborate on what you think the school needs and what you can do to fill that need."
Assistant Principal Penny Tonelli and Wood County Schools Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Frieda Owen traveled to Charleston to receive the grant and attend a presentation on the program.
Tonelli said Student Educational and Economic Development Success (S.E.E.D.S.) grants are intended to help schools develop products and resources which later can be expanded.
So far the school has come up with several possibilities for the money, but Tonelli said its ultimate use will be determined by the partnership.
"We don't really know yet what we are going to do," she said. "We are getting lots of ideas in, lots of suggestions. The main idea is to implement something and then each year take it a little bit further.
"The business mentor and the former principal who will help us with the grant will collaborate with the principal on how to best use the funds within the school. The money definitely will be spent on student learning, the question is in what way."
Charlene "Charlie" Crooks of Bluestone Energy Partners and The Blennerhassett Hotel will act as the school's business mentor, Tonelli said. Crooks' appointment was announced at Wednesday's meeting in Charleston.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity," Crooks said. "I haven't even met the principal yet, but I look forward to the opportunity to work with him and the school."
Crooks said early in her academic career she studied teaching, but later changed her focus to marketing and business. She said having a chance to return to education and work with the school is a thrilling prospect.
"It will be a wonderful opportunity for me to have a past dream come true," she said. "I think at this stage in my life, I'm just thrilled to have the opportunity to give back to the community."
