CCSD, WSD Receive Partnership Funding

RISON - The Cleveland County and Woodlawn School Districts both learned Monday that they will be receiving state partnership money to fund new projects on their respective campuses.According to the Arkansas Department of Education's Division of Public School Facilities and Transportation, the Cleveland County School District has been awarded $2,707,623 for construction of a new gym and $138,714.14 to build a secure en-trance to Rison Elementary.Meanwhile, the Woodlawn School District was awarded $1,290,334.40 to build a new career education center north of the high school parking lot.Both districts have the matching funds in place to accept the money after voters in both districts approved millage increases this year. Woodlawn approved a 2-mill increase in May while Cleveland County approved a 6mill increase last month.Partnership funding covers a portion of the cost for approved construction projects based. That portion is determined by each district's wealth index, which is essentially a formula that measures a district's ability to raise money on its own. Districts from rural areas like Cleveland County and Woodlawn, usually receive a higher percentage since both have limited sources for revenue.Cleveland County Superintendent Davy King and Woodlawn Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hancock both said the partnership money will be on their respective school board agendas Monday night. The school boards must formally accept the funds before the projects can move forward.Both school districts benefited when some school districts saw their proposed millage increases for matching funds fail during the Nov. 18 school election. While their projects may have al-ready been approved for funding, the district must turn that money back in to the state if the matching funds are not in place. The funding is then offered to the next approved project on the list. That is how both Cleveland County and Woodlawn ended up with the partnership fund...