QV Receives $250,000 Arts and Technology Grant

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has awarded Quaker Valley School District a $250,000 grant to support the new arts and technology section at the middle school.

Superintendent Joseph Clapper applied for the School Demonstration grant and learned in February that Quaker Valley would receive the award. He said the district received the funds April 1.

“I’ve been holding off on the announcement until I literally had the money in the bank," Clapper said with a laugh. "It’s in the bank.”

The money will be used toward for the new integrated arts section at the middle school, which is slated for renovation and expansion during the 2011-12 school year.

Plans include converting the former district office portion of the middle school building into instructional spaces. An auditorium with sound system and lighting will be added to the school.

Clapper said the classroom and performance space will be dedicated to fine arts and technology -- band, chorus, orchestra and technology education programs such as pre-engineering. The auditorium will serve as a performance venue, not only for the school but the entire community, Clapper said.

“My take on this is the community will get value from this, too,” he said.

The office of Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon, assisted Clapper with the grant application.

Clapper said the process took nearly 18 months and that Pippy’s staff was “excellent to work with.”  

“We’re deeply indebted to Sen. Pippy and his staff for helping us on this,” Clapper said.

The funds will provide great educational opportunities for students in grades six through eight, developing creativity and innovation skills, Clapper said.

“We’re going to do some really innovative kinds of programming in technology and the arts for our middle school students, during and after school.”