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Lee County Schools wins nearly $2.2 million from Golden Leaf schools initiative for two middle schools
Summary
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction selected Wesley Middle School and Sandley for the Golden Leaf Schools initiative, awarding Lee County Schools about $2.2 million over five years to support middle-school improvement efforts focused on academic outcomes and career readiness.
Lee County Schools announced that two of its middle schools have been selected for the Golden Leaf Schools initiative, a five-year, $25 million program run by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).
The district will receive just under $2,200,000 for Sandley and Wesley Middle School combined, with Wesley slated to receive more than $1.8 million and Sandley receiving just under $400,000, Superintendent Dr. Dasselmeyer told the board. "This funding is a game changer for those schools and for this district," he said, noting the grant is specific about how funds may be used.
The Golden Leaf award will support professional development, substitute pay, travel stipends, curriculum resources and instructional coaching targeted at middle-school students to improve academic outcomes and career readiness. Dr. Dasselmeyer said Lee County was one of only two districts statewide to receive funding for more than one school. He credited the competitive application and interview process to a team that included principals and district staff, naming Ricky Secor, the district’s federal programs director, among those who helped secure the award.
The superintendent also reported that the district secured just over $3.1 million in grant funding for projects and initiatives over the next three to five years, and reiterated that grant awards are intended to enhance — not replace — existing local funding.
Board action: The selection was announced by district staff during the superintendent’s report; the transcript shows no separate board vote on acceptance of the grant at the meeting.
Why it matters: The Golden Leaf grant is the largest single grant award the district has received, and the designated uses tie directly to teacher training and classroom supports that district leaders said are intended to improve student achievement and staff capacity.
What’s next: Dr. Dasselmeyer said the funds will be used across the five-year grant period according to the award requirements and that the district will continue implementing the planned supports at Wesley and Sandley.
