July 11, 2022 – For Immediate Release
Harvard CUSD 50 Receives Advance McHenry County Grant for $853,125
HARVARD, Ill. — On June 21, The McHenry County Board approved Harvard CUSD 50’s Advance McHenry County grant application for $853,125. CUSD 50 applied for the grant to build a transition facility that will allow students to access vocational programs and learn independent living skills.
“District 50 is thrilled to receive this funding from McHenry County,” said Dr. Corey Tafoya, Harvard CUSD 50’s Superintendent. “This funding will allow us to create a Transition Center built with our students in mind. Our new facility will be designed to promote independent living for our students, consistent with the modern learning environment we are developing district-wide. I’m ecstatic for our students and grateful to McHenry County for the chance to make a difference in the lives of all these students. Their futures will be greatly enhanced through the opportunity to learn in these new facilities.”
Harvard Community Unit School District 50’s plan is to add the translation facility adjacent to Jefferson Elementary School. The new facilities will provide students with the proper equipment to fulfill the program’s curricular requirements.
Mindy Shafer, Board of Education President, said, “D50 Board of Education is excited to be a recipient of Advance McHenry County Grant funds. These funds will allow our district to carry out its vision of providing our special education students with an on-campus modern transition center to learn independent life skills and access vocational programs. We are beyond grateful to McHenry County for this opportunity.”
Harvard CUSD 50 will finalize a plan to create more 21st-Century learning spaces at Jefferson School in the coming months. A few elements of the proposed design are adding classrooms, modernizing existing office spaces, redesigning classrooms, and revitalizing the lunch room. The project is expected to begin in the summer of 2024.
About Harvard CUSD 50
Harvard Community Unit School District 50 proudly serves more than 2,600 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. Harvard CUSD 50 features a dual language program, one-to-one computing, advanced building trades curriculum, modern STEM classes, and yearly summer camps. The community of Harvard is located in McHenry County, seven miles south of the Illinois/Wisconsin border.
Media Contact
McKenzie Laurent | Director of Communication and Public Relations
mlaurent@cusd50.org | 815-943-4022 Ext. 2103
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