4 local schools awarded $100K for performance

By Staff
Jason Cannon
Franklin County Times
Four Franklin County and Russellville City Schools were awarded $100,000, more than 2 percent of the nearly $5 million up for grabs statewide yesterday afternoon.
The funds were awarded to Phil Campbell Elementary School, Red Bay High School, Russellville Elementary School and West Elementary School for improved scholastic performance.
The schools can use the funding for instructional improvement programs and needed materials.
"These are not only rewards for schools that are making progress, they are incentives that encourage more schools to demand excellence in the classroom," said Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, who first proposed offering financial rewards to improving schools as part of his fiscal year 2007 education budget. "That's why I hope we will be able to continue increasing the funding for our school rewards initiative."
Russellville and West Elementary schools were awarded $10,000 each for Addressing the Challenge – schools with a subgroup that closed the achievement gap in percent of students scoring proficient in reading and math by at least 15 percent when compared to its state counterpart – and $20,000 each for Exceeding the Challenge – schools with a subgroup whose percent of students scoring proficient in reading and math exceeded its state counterpart.
Red Bay High School and Phil Campbell Elementary School were each awarded $20,000 for Exceeding the Challenge.
Despite receiving no federal funding for rewards this year, Alabama's financial contributions to schools that excel in these areas have increased from approximately $2.5 million last year to $5 million this year.
State Superintendent of Education Joe Morton said the monetary reward is additional compensation for a job well done to schools that have some of the most difficult academic challenges ahead of them. For some schools, the goal is more difficult to achieve, depending on the demographics of the student population.
"There is no amount of money that could truly give a good teacher what he or she is worth. The very act of educating a child is invaluable," Morton said. "However, when it is possible to provide an incentive to a school that goes above and beyond what is already a difficult task we're delighted to do so." Morton said unprecedented support from Governor Riley and the state legislature made it possible to increase reward amounts.
Across Alabama there are 36 Advancing the Challenge schools, 219 Meeting the Challenge schools, 105 Exceeding the Challenge subgroups, and 41 Addressing the Challenge subgroups.