Woodruff High School

$2 million grant will fund changes at Peoria High

A separated freshman class, a new schoolwide academic advisory period and an after-school program to help students with homework are just a fraction of what's being planned for Peoria High School this fall.

The improvements will be financed with $2 million in federal funding, the maximum awarded by the state through a competitive grant aimed at turning around and improving some of Illinois' worst schools. District 150 announced the grant Monday.

“This grant represents a new era for a school that already has a rich history,” District 150 Superintendent Grenita Lathan said.

"This is big - I see it as with all the buy-in from staff this can be very successful for students," said Lana Myers, a teacher and vice president of the Peoria Federation of Teachers, who also was involved with the district's application for the school improvement grant.

"I think our hope as teachers is the new programs turn into something the district learns from, something that we can spread across the district," Myers said.

District 150 potentially could receive up to $6 million - $2 million over each of the next three years - specifically for Peoria High School. This is the same grant that Manual High School was awarded last year. Both high schools were eligible to apply because of their inability to meet state and federal academic performance standards.

School officials plan to separate Peoria High ninth-grade students much of the time from the rest of the student body starting this fall. That already is the case at Manual, and officials say this helps with the transition students face entering high school.

A more varied and rigorous curriculum also is being put into place, as well as a "turnaround manager" to oversee the grant's use and impact and a "formative assessment specialist," which means more student data and assessments.

One condition of the grant is a change in the school's leadership. In March, District 150 replaced the principal, Randy Simmons.

Several members of the public, including parents of students at Peoria High School, repeatedly asked to keep Simmons at the high school. They praised the principal, known for his no-nonsense leadership as well as for restoring order and "cleaning up" Peoria High when he came to the school in 2004.

Simmons has said he supports the district's efforts to secure the grant. District 150 did not apply for the grant last year for Peoria High School, district officials said, specifically because it would have meant Simmons' removal - something they did not favor as Woodruff was consolidating with Peoria High.

Top Pre-Season 2012 North Carolina High School Football Prospects

Here are some of the top pre-season 2012 North Carolina High School Football Prospects. This state appears to be loaded with potential talent all across the board. I’ve listed 27, but there could literally be another 27 potential prospects, but for time’s sake, we’ve kept the list to 27.

1. D. J. Humphries, 6′ 6″ 275 pounds, Offensive Lineman from Mallard Creek High School. Big athletic left offensive tackle who can move very well. His highlight video can be found, Here! 9. Jonathan Bullard, 6′ 4″ 250 pounds, Defensive End from Crest High School. A big, tough guy with a nice body frame for college. One of two top players from Crest High School on this preseason list.