ARISE Academy, along with two other schools, will share a $250,000 grant from Baptist Community Ministries to implement arts integrated instruction across the entire school curriculum over the next three years, Principal Andrew Shahan said at the board’s monthly meeting, March 21.

KID smART, working with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will create a program designed to increase “teaching artist time and embedded coaching” of classroom teachers. The program also includes professional development of teachers in formal arts education. Martin Behrman Elementary and Langston Hughes Academy are the two other schools that will benefit from KID smART’s Arts Experiences in Schools program.

Another item on the board’s agenda was a report on the March 9 breakfast at which parents could learn about school programs and volunteer opportunities. A registration booth was set up at the event to help re-register students for next year.

According to the board, the breakfast raised the school’s profile within the community in ways that should facilitate outreach programs and foster fundraising.

ARISE will have another such breakfast event on May 15.

The 45-minute meeting ended with a principal’s report on facilities and a budget summary through Feb 2012.

Shahan said that at a recent meeting with BESE officials, he was informed that Drew Elementary will vacate the shared building at the end of the semester, leaving ARISE as sole tenant. But needed renovations will still require an 18-month move to temporary quarters, he said.

According to the 13-page budget summary, ARISE’s revenues and expenditures remain in line with 2011-2012 projections. Currently, total budgeted revenue is $3,305,847, while expenses through February stood at $2,202,323. The school expects expenses to decrease as the year comes to an end with no major expenses outstanding.

The next board meeting is April 18.