SALISBURY — Communities in Schools was recently awarded a Duke Energy grant. Executive Director Scott Bannister said the $2,500 grant was intended to fund a Lunch Buddy reading program at Koontz Elementary.

However, Communities in Schools was unable to run the program, and asked Duke if the funds could be applied to an after-school tutoring program at the school, instead. The grant was specific, and permission to change its target had to be received,

“Or you have to send it all back,” Bannister said.

But the energy giant gave the green light, and the after-school tutoring program at Koontz revved up Wednesday afternoon. Currently, the program has about 36 children enrolled, and around six volunteers from Schneider Electric. Bannister hopes to have volunteers come from the Duke plant near Koontz, but says nothing has been set up yet.

Students at the Koontz tutoring program are divided by grade level, and Bannister says they need at least two volunteers per grade-group. The program runs twice a week, immediately following class dismissal.

“We need as many volunteers as we can get,” Bannister.

Those interested in tutoring should contact CIS at 704-797-0210 or visit www.rss.k12.nc.us or www.cisrowan.org .