TASD to announce details on magnet schools grant

Gov. Hutchinson is expected to attend event at Arkansas High

The Texarkana, Ark., School District will hold an announcement on the Magnet Assistance Program grant at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Red Wall at Arkansas High School, 1500 Jefferson Ave.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson will attend the event, where district officials will announce the amount of the five-year grant.

“We are excited about the announcement of our 2017 MSAP grant because it affords the Texarkana, Ark., School District and the community an opportunity to prepare our secondary-level students for success in the classroom and beyond,” said Robin Hickerson, assistant superintendent of secondary education. “The 2017 MSAP funds will support the TASD Montage Project.”

The project focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics and aligns with the governor’s statewide initiative. It’s “the district’s next step toward continuous improvement of enhanced and meaningful learning,” Hickerson said.

This will be the third magnet grant the district has received. In 2013, the district received $9.4 million to fund the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Through the Arts and Design Project. It focused on teaching students in kindergarten through eighth grade critical-thinking skills, service learning and citizenship as they prepared for secondary education.

The district also received a $9.7 million magnet grant in 2007.