OSKALOOSA, IOWA — Oskaloosa Middle School and the George Daily Auditorium are the recipients of the highly competitive Learning Beyond the Bell grants, designed to bolster before- and after-school programming in Iowa.

Among the 67 awardees, OMS and the George Daily Auditorium secured a grant totaling $148,540 to enhance their after-school extracurricular offerings and support student achievement.

“Something we’re really proud of that we have implemented over the past two years at the middle school has been our after-school programs,” said Mark Scholes, OMS principal. “We have some great student participation in the chess club, game club, manufacturing club, and cooking club, along with our Communications/Technology/Art (CTA) club. This grant allows us to put more resources into supporting each of those after-school clubs and could lead to the creation of new clubs that we have not yet considered.”

In addition to the plans at OMS, the George Daily Auditorium will use the funding for significant technological infrastructure upgrades and to start new educational initiatives.

“First, we will install new sound and audiovisual equipment at the auditorium, which has been sorely needed for many years,” said GDA Executive Director Andy McGuire. “We also will be starting a new facet of the partnership between the auditorium and the school district, creating a middle school technical theatre club. Students at the middle school will be using brand-new equipment and learning how to use it for school, auditorium, and community events.”

The grant, made possible through the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, will enable the acquisition of resources tailored to the diverse interests of the students.

“We will be able to purchase grilling equipment for our cooking club, along with new refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens,” said Scholes. “Additionally, our technology club will benefit from new camera equipment, enhancing our announcements and promotional efforts to spread the word about all the great things happening at the middle school. This grant is a game changer for our clubs, providing them with the tools they need to thrive.”

“Any time students get practical, hands-on experience is a positive thing,” said Allison McGuire, GDA Community Engagement and Education Director. “With this equipment in particular, you have the opportunity to learn a lot about problem-solving and beginning with the end in mind. At the auditorium, we use theatre as a tool to teach collaborative communication and critical thinking skills in a rewarding, positive atmosphere.”

“The new equipment will also work on the opposite end of things,” said Andy McGuire. “While it will allow students to grow their technical theatre design and engineering skills, the updated technology will be more beginner-friendly and make it easier for more people to use equipment at the auditorium.”