MTHS receives $25,000 grant

Dale Ellis, right, communications director with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, presents a check in the amount of $25,000 to Marked Tree Superintendent Annesa Thompson and High School Principal Matt Wright. (Miranda Remaklus / Democrat Tribune photo)

Marked Tree High School was the recipient this week of a $25,000 College Access Challenge Grant from the Arkansas Department of High Education.

According to Dale Ellis, communications director with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, the state of Arkansas received $1 million from the U.S. Department of Education to spend of higher education awareness.

Marked Tree Superintendent Annesa Thompson and MTHS Principal Matt Wright received the funds from Ellis on Thursday.

"We are very pleased to receive this grant," Wright said.

With the grant money, MTHS plans to "build a culture of high expectations among the students and parents, one which embraces post-secondary education," according to the district's grant proposal.

The proposal also discussed the district's desire to provide a support system for former students enrolled in college to increase their likelihood of completion; to improve ACT scores of students to decrease the need for remedial courses and increase college preparedness; and improve reading levels of seventh and eighth grade students.

Other activities planned via the grant include a fall and spring family night. The chamber of commerce will be involved as well as local businesses who have careers requiring a college graduation. The activity will allow students to look into various careers. Also companies hiring young adults will be on hand so students could obtain a job to have money to save for college.

Other activities will include a reading intervention program, a seventh through ninth grade mentoring program, a no-failing grade policy, ACT prep courses, a summer strategies session with seventh graders, quarterly counselor workshops, social networking, teacher AP training and certification and monthly parental involvement meetings.

The Marked Tree School District will be able to implement these activities with the assistance of sponsorships with Arkansas State University, Sylvan Learning Center and the Marked Tree Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club.

According to the proposal, "The Marked Tree School District is committed to the students of this community and, therefore, is willing to embrace any challenges ahead."

Ellis added that a portion of the total funds the state received will go toward the promotion of Go College Week which is Feb. 15-22 around the state.