The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Little Cypress Intermediate has been awarded a $5,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant; a nationally competitive grant.

This grant will be used for Stage 1 of a “Stay and Play Recreational Area” for special needs students. A 6-foot coated chain link fence will be installed around a 40 X 40 foot area outside of the Life Skills Classroom on the west side of the campus. Once this fence is installed, the special needs students will be able to go outside and play. This had not been possible previously because the students need physical boundaries for both their safety and comfort.

Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD’s Maintenance Department will provide labor and equipment for the installation. A picnic table designed especially for the physically challenged, and portable age-appropriate sensory stimulating equipment are also a part of the grant.

Grant writers for the project are Kelly Meadows and Rachel Choate and they are hard at work, trying to secure funding for additional stages of this project.

Stage 2 will add an all-weather, rubberized surface within the fenced area and a 6-foot wide by 20-foot long sidewalk from the drive to the recreational area.

Stage 3 will see a weather barrier over the area and will allow it to also be used as an outdoor classroom, when not in use by special needs students.

Stage 4 will complete the Play Area with accessible sensory stimulating equipment permanently installed.

Organizations and individuals who would like to be a part of providing support to the “Stay and Play Recreational Area” can contact Ms.

Meadows and Ms.

Choate at 409-886-4245.