Updated April 10, 2019

The Giles County Board of Education was awarded more than $30,000 during last week's board meeting to assist in two of the school system’s innovative programs .

Read to Be Ready Program received $13,400 from the Rotary Club of Pulaski. The Rotary Club raises the money for its annual donation to the summer reading program through its annual Casino Night held each fall.

 Read to Be Ready assist first through third graders who are at risk in their reading ability. The summer program served 90 students in June 2018 and the Rotary Club donation purchased approximately 30 books for each student.

The money donated last week will go to this June’s Read to Be Ready program, which is expected to serve as many as 114 students.

After receiving the Read to Be Ready donation, the new Generation Next leadership program were recognized by the board for  $18,000 raised from local businesses, industries and individuals to cover the cost of the program this year.

Board member Katie Journey told the board that Generation Next is a program based on the Dale Carnegie Leadership program that involves 15 students from Richland High School and 15 from GCHS.