Kershaw district awarded $431,765 Stronger Connections grant; board recognizes students and schools
October 22, 2025 | Kershaw 01, School Districts, South Carolina
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Kershaw County School District officials on Monday announced the district has been awarded a $431,765 Stronger Connections grant to expand coordinated, evidence‑based supports for students and recognized several students and schools for academic and arts achievements.
The Stronger Connections grant will fund expansion and sustainment of a multi‑tiered system of supports intended to address students’ social‑emotional and academic needs, district leaders said. The district noted that nearly two‑thirds of its students are classified as economically disadvantaged and that the district is seeing rising numbers of multilingual learners and students affected by trauma, mental‑health challenges and housing instability.
At the start of the meeting the board recognized three high‑school students named National Merit semifinalists, awarded arts grants to Pine Tree Hill Elementary ($12,600) and Dobies Mill Elementary, and announced that North Central Middle School received an educational “Holocaust trunk” from the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust containing books and materials for permanent use.
Why it matters: The Stronger Connections grant provides funding to expand districtwide supports for students facing academic and nonacademic barriers; the recognition items highlight district successes in academic achievement and arts programming.
Details: Matia Goodwin, director of intervention and enrichment, presented the grant announcement and credited district staff and community partners for the application and award. The district said the grant will be used to expand coordinated, evidence‑based multi‑tiered supports. At the recognition portion, Pine Tree Hill (the “Bullpups”) received $12,600 to support dance and theater residencies for grades 1–3 and a metal sculpture project for grade 4; Dobies Mill will host artist residencies and a third‑grade production of The Jungle Book; North Central Middle School received a trunk valued at over $1,000 and is the first middle school in the state to receive a permanent trunk.
Formal actions: These recognitions and the grant announcement were informational items; no board votes were required to announce the grant or the recognitions.
Ending: Board members and staff posed for photographs with honorees; the district said the Stronger Connections grant will be implemented by the academics and student‑support teams and will be a priority for the coming school year.
The Stronger Connections grant will fund expansion and sustainment of a multi‑tiered system of supports intended to address students’ social‑emotional and academic needs, district leaders said. The district noted that nearly two‑thirds of its students are classified as economically disadvantaged and that the district is seeing rising numbers of multilingual learners and students affected by trauma, mental‑health challenges and housing instability.
At the start of the meeting the board recognized three high‑school students named National Merit semifinalists, awarded arts grants to Pine Tree Hill Elementary ($12,600) and Dobies Mill Elementary, and announced that North Central Middle School received an educational “Holocaust trunk” from the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust containing books and materials for permanent use.
Why it matters: The Stronger Connections grant provides funding to expand districtwide supports for students facing academic and nonacademic barriers; the recognition items highlight district successes in academic achievement and arts programming.
Details: Matia Goodwin, director of intervention and enrichment, presented the grant announcement and credited district staff and community partners for the application and award. The district said the grant will be used to expand coordinated, evidence‑based multi‑tiered supports. At the recognition portion, Pine Tree Hill (the “Bullpups”) received $12,600 to support dance and theater residencies for grades 1–3 and a metal sculpture project for grade 4; Dobies Mill will host artist residencies and a third‑grade production of The Jungle Book; North Central Middle School received a trunk valued at over $1,000 and is the first middle school in the state to receive a permanent trunk.
Formal actions: These recognitions and the grant announcement were informational items; no board votes were required to announce the grant or the recognitions.
Ending: Board members and staff posed for photographs with honorees; the district said the Stronger Connections grant will be implemented by the academics and student‑support teams and will be a priority for the coming school year.
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