The Mexico School District is excited to announce the award of a Perkins Innovation & Modernization (PIM) Grant, amounting to $3.9 million in grant funds over three years to enhance educational opportunities for Bulldog students.

The funding will amplify the district’s partnership with C2C, a collaboration of The Tyronn Lue Fund and Partners for Rural Impact. C2C is committed to improving cradle-to-career outcomes in the community and builds on Lue’s ongoing philanthropic efforts in Mexico.

The PIM grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), is designed to give high school students more academic and workforce opportunities as well as provide more options after graduation. The grant aims to expand access to career-connected high school programs that align with the needs of the local labor market. This initiative places a particular emphasis on broadening access and opportunities for disadvantaged students, ensuring that every student has the chance to succeed.

The grant will operate with an approximate annual budget of $1.3 million and will support the hiring of seven dedicated staff members: project director (1), program managers (2), and college & career navigators (4). A navigator will be assigned to each high school grade with the goal strengthening the relationship between the school, students and their families.

These professionals will amplify the supports already provided by the Mexico School District in four crucial areas.

One, it will expand student access to the programs that are already in place for career exploration and personalized education planning throughout high school.

Two, it will enable more students to take dual classes as well as help teachers get certifications needed to teach those classes. The grant will also enhance the existing partnership with the Moberly Area Community College.

Three, the grant will encourage student participation in work-based learning opportunities where they may receive wages, academic credit, or both. To support student success, the work based opportunities will be focused on apprenticeships aligned with career paths. Students in the program will receive mentoring from working professionals.

Four, the grant will help students attain appropriate credentials in their field of choice at the high school or career center so they can earn a living wage after high school or pursue further education independently. One area to be explored is expanding the opportunities available locally by developing new programs in partnership with the community college.

The success of the PIM grant hinges on committed local partners, including workforce, healthcare, industry, institutions of higher education, and the local school system. Once the funding is in place, C2C will bring together stakeholders to leverage community assets to create enhanced opportunities for job shadowing, mentorship and more.

Superintendent Melissa Chastain shared, "As educators, our mission is clear: to create pathways of success for every student. Our district’s relationship with C2C, coupled with the PIM grant, aligns perfectly with this commitment. It empowers us to enhance secondary and postsecondary education while building even stronger connections with the local workforce. It will help ensure that every student, regardless of their background, can access and thrive in career-connected high school programs that cater to the demands of our local job market."

Together, C2C and Mexico School District will shape a brighter future for the students and the community.