Courtney Dunn Gets it Done at Gardner MA Public Schools – Update with Interview
She’s been in the job just under 4 years, but the grants manager at Gardner’s Schools is really bringing in the grants. So much so that the agenda for the Gardner School Committee had to be amended on the day of the December 12, 2022 meeting because there was another grant to announce.
Dunn submitted more than a dozen grants to be approved by the School Committee at the meeting of 12-12-22.
Courtney Dunn – Grants, Communications & Compliance Manager at Gardner Public Schools was kind enough to answer our questions. Listen to the interesting interview on any device by Clicking Play.
A Collaborative Effort of Talented Colleagues and Community Partners
Courtney Dunn advised that one reason the number of grants was high is because of a new State policy requiring School Districts to formally accept all grant funding prior to the money being expended. With respect to the competitive grants, Dunn stated, ” I want to be clear that without these, our committed staff and the leadership….that have these amazing ideas and put in a lot of work towards these programs before we’re eligible for the grants, the district would not even be eligible to apply….The work that goes in to the programming…happens a long time before.” Dunn added, “We have really good staff who are very committed to the services for our kids, and they’re very excited about this new programming that’s being offered….It’s collaboration between a lot of departments within the school and then a lot of partnerships outside of the school as well….” Courtney Dunn spoke about various grants in detail and even answered where she’d put the funds from a whimsical million dollar grant. In essence she stated, “To really grow the programming to sustain the number of students and the number of opportunities that we want to give our students.”
Dunn’s Report to the School Committee
According to Dunn’s report to the School Committee, “The district has been awarded the Innovation Pathways Implementation and Support Grant in the amount of $50,000. The funding will help provide Certified Nursing Assistant certifications to more than 20 students, a new curriculum in the advanced manufacturing program, and promotion and marketing materials for the Innovation Pathways Program at GHS. The district has also been awarded $186,000 through the Early College Support Grant to help provide mental health support programming, transportation costs, course seats, curriculum development, and sustaining the College & Career Readiness position. Beyond that, the funding will help to promote the program through professional marketing services in addition to more robust recruitment efforts Grant Report to School Committee. More info on the grants.
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