Cary school gets boost from grant

Three Oaks School in Cary Elementary District 26 has been awarded a federal grant to boost the academic success of students from low-income families.

The district will receive $117,000 in Title I funding, which it plans to use in the fall to hire two paraprofessionals, a part-time curriculum resource teacher and a part-time literacy coach, said Natalie Wishne, principal at Three Oaks School.

Title I programs provide federal funding to schools with high numbers or percentages of disadvantaged children to ensure all students meet challenging academic standards.

“Under any circumstance, but especially during difficult financial times, if you can give students and staff additional supports it is greatly needed and appreciated,” Wishne said. “This will provide additional instructional support and interventions for students, as well as ongoing professional development for staff.”

In researching for the grant, Wishne said, the district identified one student in every class at every grade level at Three Oaks School who needed help in literacy. That's about 174 students, or 34 percent of the school's population, Wishne said.

“The main goal is the implementation of a balanced/guided reading framework,” Wishne said.

Students in kindergarten through the fourth grade will benefit from instruction in reading and writing through small groups, phonics work, independent reading and student conferences, Wishne said.

“We have applied for the grant in the past,” she said. “But this is the first time the need has been as high and the grant amount as high.”

Wishne said the district lost one teacher in the recent layoffs, but that was due to declining enrollment.