Schools Supt. Will Schofield says the money, if received, would be used across a three-year period to encourage young teachers to remain in the profession. He says the current attrition rate is too high.
This grant, according to Schofield, would come from the second phase of Race To The Top funds.
Meanwhile, state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black has announced that Wauka Mountain Intelligences Academy in North Hall is one of three schools in the state awarded a pilot grant for the "Farm to School" program.
Schofield says school officials will meet in the coming days with potential local growers to talk about the viability of providing fresh produce to local classrooms.
The program aims to help bridge the gap in the nutritional value and quality of food served in Georgia schools, while providing more farm to cafeteria opportunities. The goal is healthier students, decreased barriers in farm to school efforts and increased awareness as students learn and experience, both educationally and nutritionally, where their food comes from.
Each of the three school systems will be represented by an elementary school in their district. During a one-week period in the spring semester, all lunches served out of each selected school's cafeteria will consist of 75-100 percent Georgia Grown food. The schools will host an agriculture guest speaker, hold "taste tests" for Georgia commodities, and conduct an essay contest. There will also be an art contest at each school that is focused on a single Georgia commodity, in addition to several other educational activities throughout the designated week.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/10/243153