By Danica Rivera & Stephanie Tran

The California Department of Education (CDE) has granted Granada Hills Charter (GHC) the Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Block Grant (AMIM). AMIM’s purpose is to assist schools in improving their educational climate and provide culturally diverse book collections within the libraries and classrooms.
With the money from the grant, GHC will be receiving additional materials and supplies to enrich students’ learning experiences, along with acquiring new curriculums that will soon be added to the school’s existing departments.
The Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) and English departments will specifically receive support from this grant.
Administrative Director Frank Tarczynski promoted the school in receiving this grant. He will also be supervising the funding’s allocation and implementation at GHC.
“This is an older campus and there are things that are in need of updating, whether that’s the Highlander Hall stage or even the seats for the performances,” Tarczynski said. “Just anything to make the experience at Granada better.”
VAPA department chair Julie Neumann said the VAPA department would gain technological materials such as 3D printers and iPads for the art classes, along with risers for the musical productions and other materials.
“The change in opportunity will be able to be seen. You’re going to see it in the performances, hear it in the music, see it in the visual arts, and the exhibits at the art shows,“ Neumann said.
Grants that could enhance the quality of supplies at GHC are often challenging to obtain and are not frequent. According to English department chair Mathew Arnold, GHC has not struggled with funding supplies before, but the fact that the grant could provide many students with new advanced materials beyond GHC’s budget is a rare occurrence.
“In my experience in the last seven years as department chair, the school has not received a grant like this. It’s new and exciting to have that kind of money available,” Arnold said.
The English department will be purchasing books by more diverse authors for its classes. According to Arnold, they also hope to eventually develop a schoolwide reading program where every student and faculty could get their own copy of a book.
The new updates and materials will benefit not only GHC’s curriculums but also its students’ critical thinking and creativity.