The bulk of more than $1.2 million in grant money recently awarded to the Churchill County School District will be used to train teachers in new and innovative teaching methods shown to improve student performance.

All five elementary schools, the junior high school and Churchill County High School received state money to improve student test scores. A total of $100 million was earmarked by Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn to provide remediation, prevention and innovation in Nevada schools.

Fallon principals and school district leaders met Wednesday to outline how the money will be spent at each school.

CCHS Principal John Riley said the $105,000 his school received will be used to improve literacy, help students with basic math skills and increase parental involvement.

The high school has been labeled as In Need of Improvement when test scores were analyzed under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Last year, remediation programs were implemented to help struggling students improve. Part of the grant funds will be used to continue those program. Riley said remedial tutoring will assist students who are flunking state proficiency tests.

The grant money will also be used to fund math and language classes in summer school and pay for teachers to travel to other school districts to learn what programs are successful.

Those teachers will come back and share the teaching techniques with their colleagues.

Numa Elementary School received the full $210,000 it requested from the state.

Principal Janet Ackerman said the majority of the money will pay salaries for teacher coaches. The school will establish a teacher/peer coaching model in math, reading and writing.

Numa has been categorized as In Need of Improvement in literacy and math.

It is using a Comprehensive Early Literacy Learning and Extended Literacy Learning model to teach educators different teaching strategies they can use in the classroom.

"It is very researched-based and does not ask all teachers to teach a certain way," Ackerman said. "They will know when to use a strategy with what students."

At West End Elementary School, Principal Kimi Smith will use the $112,000 she received to pay for substitute teachers so regular classroom instructors can be trained as literacy coordinators.

Teachers will also receive training in proven writing programs and materials will be bought for a literacy library.

Scott Meihack, principal at E.C. Best Elementary, asked for $112,000 in grant money and received $105,000. The money will be spent over two years.

The school will buy 22 laptop computers this year that can be used with scanners and printers. The computers will be used by students in after school tutoring programs. Another 18 laptops will be purchased next year.

"They will be wireless and can be used in a variety of settings in school and can go home with students," Meihack said.

He said $7,000 will be used to train teachers in reading, writing and math remediation, and $1,900 will go for materials to help Spanish speaking students read better.

At Northside Elementary, Principal John Hyatt said the $34,000 his school received "is a blessing for us."

Hyatt said the money will be used for a literacy library.

"It takes the onus for literacy from a pull-out program into the classroom and benefits all students," he said.

Churchill County Junior High School received $18,350 of the $70,000 it requested. Judy Pratt, principal, said part of the money will be used for the sixth grade summer school, which helps students adjust to the switch from elementary school. The program focuses on language arts, math and study skills,and allows the younger students to acclimate to junior high.

Lahontan Elementary Principal Rob Freeman said his school was placed on a "watch list" because of poor scores in writing. Using the $74,000 Lahontan received in grant funds, he hopes to establish a writing camp on Saturdays to help pupils improve their writing skills. CELL/ExLL writing methods will also be implemented, he said. Extra help with homework before students leave school is also being explored.

Some of the funds will be used to get more parents involved in their child's education.

"Part of our school improvement plan is to get parents more active. This fall we will be offering parenting classes at our school," Freeman said. "We're trying to reach out a little bit more."

Finally, the district as a whole was awarded $557,000. A district-wide focus on literacy is planned. Money will be used to provide professional development for teachers.

Grant funds will also be used to measure student progress in reading, language and math.