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While summer was taking place, Tullahoma City Schools received plenty of great news as the district received nearly $194,000 in grant funds.

Tullahoma High School received the majority of the grant money after receiving $75,000. THS first received $50,000 from the Perkins Reserve Grant that supports innovative career and technical education (CTE) expansion across Tennessee. These funds will be used to purchase needed equipment for the Nissan Centers of Excellence classroom, including a vehicle lift, tire changers, electrical trainer classroom set, welding machine, air compressor, industry certifications and more.

Tullahoma High School received an additional $25,000 from the Tennessee Department of Transportation Aeronautics Grant. This money will aid in the costs of students who are pursuing their private pilot’s license exam. Additionally, these funds will assist with several fees, including flight instructor and aircraft rental fees.

Bel-Aire Elementary School received two grants, including $55,811.20 from the Tire Environmental Act Program. This money will be used to purchase outdoor playground surface coverings.

Tullahoma City Schools was awarded $55,805 in grant funds from the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT). The funds that TCS received came specifically from the Lillian Ashley Field of Interest Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Ashley was born in Manchester, attended Ward Belmont in Nashville, and graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a degree in elementary education. Following a life filled with extensive travel, Ashley wanted to give back to her community. She specified that her estate would benefit the children, animals and environment of Coffee County.

Bel-Aire received $12,500 from the CFMT, which will provide students with active learning through community experiences and by increasing accessibility and opportunity. West Middle School received $10,000 from the CFMT to enhance its outdoor facilities and better serve WMS students and the community.

The TCS Coordinated School Health Department received $9,500 from the CFMT. These funds will be used to create healthy norms and cultures while also supporting teen mental health. Additionally, this money will ensure that students have what they need to increase their well-being and leadership skills while providing help-seeking, resiliency and healthy coping options.

Jack T. Farrar Elementary School received $5,805 from the CFMT. These funds will be used to add a drum tower to the playground to foster collaboration, creativity and enhance students’ academic, social-emotional and creative skills.

East Middle School also received a $5,000 grant from the CFMT that will be used to meet the basic needs of economically disadvantaged students.

Robert E. Lee Elementary School additionally received $5,000 from the CFMT so that fifth-grade students can attend Junior Achievement Biztown.

REL also received a $7,360 grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. This money will provide arts pathways for youth success by partnering with a local artist, Sherri Warren Hunter, so that students can create and color individual ceramic tiles. The school plans to transform its unused courtyard into an inclusive, multi-purpose learning, STEM-based learning environment. The tiles created by students will be turned into a mosaic wall installed in the courtyard.

“It is absolutely exciting and wonderful to see the various ways that these grants will be used to enhance the learning experiences for our students,” said TCS Director of Schools, Dr. Catherine Stephens. “I am so proud of all the grant authors who pursued these wonderful opportunities. As a district, we are constantly looking for ways to help make a positive difference in the lives of our students. I am so grateful to each organization for awarding these funds, so we can continue to provide challenging and innovative experiences that support students’ academic, social and emotional development.”