Lee School Association receives third Grant ~ April 2006

The Lee Academy for the Arts received its third $25,000 grant Thursday from the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Gov. Phil Bredesen and the Historical Commission announced grants to 25 communities for programs and activities that support the preservation of historic and archeological sites, districts and structures.

The grants awarded come from federal funds that are allocated to Tennessee through the Department of the Interior under the provisions of the National
Historic Preservation Act.

Suzanne Richter, Lee School Association member, said the grant money will be used for renovations to the school's exterior.

She said the association plans to use the funds to paint the exterior, sandblast and paint the old iron staircase at the school and finish renovations to the
tower.

"We are just extremely pleased that the state and the community is recognizing us in this way,"she said. "By (local contractors) giving us good bids, we've been
able to stretch that money."

Mrs. Richter explained that the grant is a 60-40 matching grant which means the state will fund $25,000, but about $16,000 more must be raised by local donations and organizations.

She said the association has asked city and county officials to help with the matching amount. Ray Harding, vice president of the Lee School Association, said the Historical Commission has been "very helpful and very generous."

"This (grant) will move us a long way toward finishing the restoration of the school," he said.

"(The tower) will have the appearance that it had when the school was built," he said.

He said participation and enrollment have increased at the academy.

"People are very enthusiastic about it," said Harding. "That site is the birthplace of education in Henry County."

He said the school will offer some new programs this summer including ballet and tap dance, and music lessons for small children.

The association has worked to keep the restoration as true to the original building as possible, he said, but also has made sure the building is functional.