By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
More than $566,000 worth of projects will be done throughout the Rowan-Salisbury School System this year, but the district will only have to expend about $309,600.
The Board of Education approved matching funds for 33 schools Monday.
The program allows schools to receive at least a 50 percent match of funds raised up to $10,000.
But unlike previous years, assistant superintendent Gene Miller said no schools were required to raise the full $5,000 to receive the $10,000 match because more students are receiving free and reduced lunches.
Twelve of the district’s 33 regular schools had to raise just 30 percent to qualify $10,000.
Miller said the down economy hasn’t halted the fundraising efforts at schools.
“Schools are still vigorously participating,” he said. “It’s a real testament to our community how they are still supporting our schools.”
Seventeen of the 33 projects will include technology initiatives, down from half last year.
“Our schools have made great strides in areas of technology including equipment and software, so we’re starting to see schools use the money for other things,” Miller said.
Seven schools raised more than $10,000.
North Rowan has taken in $20,000 and plans to roll over their matching funds to use next year.
“They are wanting to build an auxiliary building onto the field house,” Miller said.
Salisbury High will also save this year’s matching funds in order to remodel the front office.
Summary of matching funds projects
• Bostian Elementary – Raised $8,372, received $10,000 match for technology;
• Overton Elementary – Raised $5,000, received $10,000 match for technology;
• China Grove Elementary – Raised $4,266, received match of $9,955 for playground equipment;
• Cleveland Elementary – Raised $9,783, received $10,000 match for sound system and projection system for auditorium’
• Koontz Elementary – Raised $2,340, received $5,460 for a storage building and mulch;
• Shive Elementary – Raised $5,384, received $10,000 for technology;
• Enochville Elementary – Raised $8,680, received $10,000 for technology;
• Faith Elementary – Raised $10,716, received $10,000 to remove carpet and replace with tile;
• Granite Quarry Elementary – Raised $5,413, received $10,000 for iPad cart with 20 iPads;
• Isenberg Elementary – Raised $6,162, received $10,000 for technology and playground equipment;
• Hanford Dole Elementary – Raised $3,000, received $7,000 for a covered walkway to the front of the school;
• Hurley Elementary – Raised $6,000, received $10,000 iPods and cart;
• Knollwood Elementary – Raised $10,000, received $10,000 for a new playground;
• Landis Elementary – Raised $4,931, received $10,000 for technology;
• Millbridge Elementary – Raised $6,481, received $9,721 for playground sunshade;
• Morgan Elementary – Raised $4,566, received $8,479 for playground swings;
• Mt. Ulla Elementary – Raised $4,900, received $9,100 to purchase books and technology;• North Rowan Elementary – Raised $2,504, received $5,844 for a stage curtain;
• Rockwell Elementary – Raised $10,000, received $10,000 for technology;
• Woodleaf Elementary – Raised $23,289, received $10,000 for a scholastic reading room;
• Erwin Middle – Raised $13,470, received $10,000 for technology;
• China Grove Middle – Raised $6,627, received $10,000 for technology;
• Corriher Lipe Middle – Raised $5,384, received $9,999 for technology;
• Knox Middle – Raised $10,997, received $10,000 for technology;
• North Rowan – Raised $1,746, received $4,074 for courtyard and indoor benches;
• Southeast Middle – Raised $9,458, received $10,000 for technology;
• West Rowan Middle – Raised $11,113, received $10,000 for technology;
• East Rowan High – Raised $6,676, received $10,000 for a Gator, guidance flooring and lighting upgrade in the auditorium;
• Carson High – Raised $9,170, received $10,000 for jump pits and grading at the track
• North Rowan High – Raised $20,000, received $10,000 for an auxiliary building addition to the field house;
• Salisbury High – Raised $6,666, received $10,000 for remodeling the front office;
• South Rowan High – Raised $6,666, received $10,000 for a backstage curtain and cover for benches
• West Rowan High – Raised $6,666, received $10,000 for a track projects.
Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.
Twitter: twitter.com/posteducation
Facebook: facebook.com/Sarah.SalisburyPost

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In other business
The Rowan-Salisbury school board also:
• Approved the school improvement plans for the district’s 35 schools. The decision follows the approval of the district plan earlier this month.
The plans include three to five specific goals. At least one goal has to be focused on student achievement and another on the implementation of the state’s new curriculum standards.
The principal, assistant principals, instructional support personnel, teacher assistants and parents from each school work to create the plans, which have to be updated every two years.
The complete plan can be found on each individual school’s website.
• Approved a lease agreement to allow Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to rent mobile units during the construction.
The agreement states the units shall be reinstalled in the same place and in the condition in which they were found. They are set to be returned by June 2014.
• Approved roof replacement projects at Landis and Rockwell elementary schools.
The back two sections of the main building at Landis will be replaced due to age and condition. The 10,300-square-foot project has a low bid of $107,423.
The gym roof needs to be replaced at Rockwell following a hail storm. The low bid is $48,160 for the 7,000-square-foot roof. Insurance will cover about $34,000 of the project
• During closed session the board voted to extend the contract of Gene Miller, assistant superintendent of operations, until June 30, 2013.
Miller retired in July 2011, but returned that October to work on the central office project.
He told a Post reporter in August that he planned to retire for good at the end of December.