Glendale Unified to apply for ‘long shot’ arts grant

Glendale Unified officials will apply for a “long shot” competitive arts grant that the U.S. Department of Education will disperse to just six school districts in the nation.

If Glendale Unified is successful, it could win up to $325,000 for the Mark Keppel Visual and Performing Arts elementary magnet.

“This grant is a long shot,” said Kelly King, director of Glendale Unified’s categorical programs.

Should the district win, however, it would open up a second opportunity to apply for additional funding beyond the one-year grant for up to three years more.

Despite the long odds, officials say they feel Mark Keppel is poised for success.

“Mark Keppel has already been a school that has been visited by many other schools and districts,” King said during Tuesday’s school board meeting.”That’s a strength they already have.”

The grant’s aim is to increase model arts education programs across the country. Under the competition, the Department of Education will spend $2 million in grants nationwide.

Winning districts would win at least $275,000 under the program.

Mark Keppel Principal Lise Sondergaard said the grant would help maintain the school’s growing status as a model arts school in the greater Los Angeles region.

The grant requires that winning schools reach out to others interested in creating art driven programs.

Should Mark Keppel win, Sondergaard said the school would share student-created videos online, and post lessons on the Internet for access by outside teachers.

“It’s a real long shot,” Sondergaard said, but, she added, “we figured that we have as good as chance as anybody.”

-- Kelly Corrigan, Times Community News

Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan