I would like to clear up some information that was posted in a recent letter to the editor from Betty Gardner in regards to West Bonner County School District 83 and GEAR UP. GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a grant program that is designed to increase the number of low-income students that are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

When I talked to Mrs. Gardner early in the school year, it was unknown whether WBCSD would receive the GEAR UP grant for the 2018-2019 school year. Due to some miscommunication by the state of Idaho, we were just notified this last week that we did indeed receive the GEAR UP grant.

So, what does this mean for WBCSD? The GEAR UP coordinator will spend 24 hours per week working with junior high students in the district. Due to stipulations that go with the grant, the 2018-2019 school year will focus on working with seventh-grade students. The 2019-2020 school year will focus on working with both seventh- and eighth-grade students. From that point on, those two groups of students will be followed by the GEAR UP coordinator throughout the rest of their high school career.

WBCSD is fortunate to have a current employee, Brenna Ballenger, who will fill the position as the GEAR UP coordinator. She will also spend 16 hours a week working with high school students as a Near Peer mentor. This position, which is also funded by a separate grant, helps high school seniors apply for colleges, scholarships and federal financial aid. Brenna will spend this week at a yearly training, which will help her understand the GEAR UP program at a much deeper level, and help her to get the program up and running at PRJH for the 2018-2019 school year.

LEONI JOHNSON

Priest River

Priest River Junior High principal