State Superintendent Mark Johnson announced today that the state is the recipient of a $2 million federal grant to aid continued recovery efforts from hurricanes Florence and Michael, both of which caused damage to schools across the state. The funds will restore learning environments in 271 schools in 12 school districts and one charter school, helping more than 130,000 public school students.
“We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for recognizing the impact that these storms continue to have to students and educators in North Carolina,” Johnson said. “A violent storm is disruptive and can have a long-lasting, traumatic effect on students and affect their academic performance and mental health. These resources will help us ensure these schools continue to be the anchor of their communities.”
Funds from the grant will be awarded to the following school districts and charter school:
• Bladen County Schools
• Brunswick County Schools
• Carteret County Schools
• Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
• Davidson County Schools
• Jones County Schools
• New Hanover County Schools
• Onslow County Schools
• Pender County Schools
• Randolph County Schools
• Public Schools of Robeson County
• Sampson County Schools
• Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington
The grant will fund projects such as rebuilding playgrounds, transporting students displaced by the storm to allow them to continue attending their home schools, pay to those who worked tirelessly to preserve and restore school facilities and learning environments, and providing additional instructional time. These funds are in addition to funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, insurance claims, Florence Aid to Students and Teachers of North Carolina (FAST NC) and those appropriated specifically for hurricane recovery by the North Carolina General Assembly, and can be used to reimburse recipient entities for expenses already incurred.
The source of the additional financial support is Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence and Disaster), a fund established by the U.S. Congress and provided through the U.S. Department of Education, originally in response to the Columbine, Colorado, shooting incident of April 1999. Project SERV was established initially to support schools following a traumatic event that had significantly disrupted a school’s routine functioning through an act of violence. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the circumstances covered by Project SERV were expanded to include natural disasters.
The Department of Public Instruction’s divisions that are focused on curriculum and federal programs, led by Christie Lynch Ebert and Michael Wells, respectively, submitted a statewide application for the SERV grant on behalf of the districts and charter school.
“I thank Michael, Christie and their teams, as well as the local superintendents and charter leaders, for their work on behalf of our students and educators,” Johnson said. “We pledge to disburse these funds quickly to these well-deserving schools.”
The best running back in Carolina Panthers’ franchise history has just returned to the Queen City to retire as a Panther after spending last year’s 2018 season with the New York Giants. 
Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina. It is located in the east of the United States of America near the border between North and South Carolina. According to official statistics, more than 756 thousand inhabitants live in the city with a total area of 771 sq.km. Founded in 1769, the city was named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III of England. Therefore, Charlotte is often called the “City of the Queen.” According to world statistics, this city is considered one of the best places to live, work, and build a family. Being one of the most attractive destinations for recreation, the city touches the feelings even of the most demanding tourists. So, we present to you the top most romantic places in Charlotte for a first date.
This coming Friday (April 26th) NoDa’s Novel community will host their first Food Truck Friday Block Party from 5:00-9:00 pm.
27-Year-Old Christopher Hibberts was just arrested by Gaston County Police after a five-hour standoff in Dallas, NC.
Last year the Carolina Panthers started off the season strong, with a 6-2 record on November 5th…but the season quickly took a bad turn…really bad. With increasing arm problems and unreliable receivers, Cam Newton led the Panthers to 7 straight losses between November 8th and December 23rd. They did manage to beat the Saint’s second string during their last game of the season on Dec. 30th to finish with a 7-9 record.
When it comes to destinations for a romantic break, there are various options you can consider. It is important to remember that couples have different ideas of what constitutes a relaxing break. Some will find that a break in the city is perfect while others prefer something more relaxed and laid back. If you want to arrange a relaxed romantic trip with a loved one, a beach destination is a great idea.
A new study has been published by Realtor.com that examines the trend of gentrification (drastic price increases in low-income areas) in cities across the country. The controversial phenomena benefits investors and homeowners, while also driving up rental prices for low-income families, forcing many out of the neighborhoods they grew up in.