KPTV - FOX 12$245,800 awarded to Hillsboro Sch. Dist.

$245,800 awarded to Hillsboro Sch. Dist.

The Hillsboro School District has been awarded $245,800 by the Nike School Innovation Fund (NSIF).

The money will go toward teacher training and support, with a focus on English language learners and mathematics.

The Hillsboro School District is contributing $170,500 to the program.

"In 2011, Hillsboro School District had to reduce nearly $20 million from our operating budget.  As a result, we have had to think differently about how we support schools, said Hillsboro's Assistant Superintendent Steve Larson.

"The grant is critically important to us because it will allow us to support our elementary schools with the highest percentage of students who do not speak English as their first language and have the highest percentage of students of poverty," he said.

This is the fifth consecutive year that the Fund has given Leadership Innovation Grants, which support innovation in education and leadership to improve student achievement in the Beaverton, Hillsboro and Portland Public School Districts.

"The NSIF Leadership Innovation grant and our district resources will provide the principals and staff with the tools, resources, time, practice and experience needed to improve teaching and learning for all students that we could not afford otherwise," said Larson.

In July 2011, NSIF was lauded by President Barack Obama as part of an event roundtable discussion on how corporation partnerships can help transform the American education system.

"During this trying economic period when public school funding is shrinking, it is vital to keep innovative school programs alive," said Heidi O'Neill, VP/General Manager of Nike Global Women's Training.

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