By Rupert Howell

South Panola School District is in the process of partnering with Corinth School District in drafting an application for funding for a four-year period in the federal Race to the Top program (RTT) according to a report in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

RTT was created to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education.
South Panola School Superintendent Dr. Keith Shaffer confirmed that the district is in the process of drafting an application “piggybacking” off of a state pilot program and transition model while partnering with Corinth.

Shaffer implied that the application process was still in infancy as award times are next spring.

The Daily Journal story indicated an application for $10-$20 million, but Shaffer said the South Panola program would not be “full blown” —more of a pilot type program locally that would not garner a large percentage of the funds.

Shaffer did say that funds were highly competitive and the proposal was “technology rich.”

Shaffer said breaking down traditional approaches and greater emphasis on local resources for learning were two of the points to be emphasized through the grant.