TVA grants $500,000 to Hickory Hill charter schools
Power Center Academy Elementary School received a $100,000 grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority. (Photo courtesy of Obsidian Public Relations)
Two Hickory Hill charter schools will receive upgrades thanks to $500,000 in grants from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Power Center Academy Elementary School received $100,000 to improve energy efficiency and create a unique learning environment. Power Center Academy High School received $400,000 for lighting and HVAC improvements.
“This grant allows us to reduce energy waste, meaning we have more resources to invest in what our school needs most — books, teaching materials, enhanced learning environments that meet our scholar’s social and emotional needs, education technologies for our STEM teachings and more,” Yetta Lewis, CEO of Gestalt Community Schools said.
The charter network celebrated the grants with a pep rally for students Wednesday, featuring performances by the schools’ cheer and dance teams and a spotlight on STEM.
The grants are part of the TVA’s $7.3 million School Uplift program, in which schools learn to save energy and compete against other schools for the grants over the course of a year. The authority started the program to alleviate schools’ budget dilemmas that often leave leaders choosing between facility upgrades and learning programs.
TVA created the program to serve 160 public schools over three years. It partners with local utility providers, such as Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division, across seven states. In the past two years, 60 schools have competed in the program. Schools can win up to $400,000 in grants.
There are both monetary and physical benefits to their energy waste reduction strategy.
According to TVA, participating schools have saved more than 10% on their annual energy bills from behavior changes alone. Additionally, improvements like increased air quality and LED lighting have been linked to increased productivity and healthier environments, especially for students who may suffer from asthma.
“Helping schools save money on their energy costs and improve learning environments is an important investment in the Valley’s future,” Cindy Herron, vice president of TVA EnergyRight, said.
The School Uplift Program is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 academic year, seeking to recruit 100 schools. To express interest in the program, school leaders can click here.
Topics
Hickory Hill Power Center Academy Yetta Lewis Tennessee Valley Authority Gestalt Community SchoolsDaja E. Henry
Daja E. Henry is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a graduate of Howard University and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and currently is a general assignment reporter.
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