PINEVILLE — Kindergarten through third grade students in the Pineville Independent School District will be receiving some academic enrichment in reading in the approaching days, after being awarded a large grant this week.

The Pineville Independent Board of Education received $105,000 from the Elgin Foundation, located in Knoxville, Tenn., for the purpose of implementing an after-school program focused on improving students reading skills and strategies.

The grant will provide the school with the funds to purchase and implement the Reading Mastery Signature and Waterford programs to serve and benefit the elementary students of Pineville. Both programs have designed strategies and action steps based on program development and curriculum, and are aligned with Kentucky State Standards in reading.

Pineville Superintendent Michael D. White recently spoke about the contributions made by the Elgin Foundation.

“I am excited to welcome the Elgin Foundation as a partner with Pineville Independent Schools. The monetary support and professional development that this grant is providing for our after-school program is unprecedented,” White declared.

“Teachers are being given the resources to continually assess the needs of individual students and respond to those needs with innovative instructional materials and research-based strategies.”

White added, “Reading fluency is improving daily and not only are we developing a model after-school program, the entire primary program is being enhanced.”

Elementary Principal Bob Bennett also spoke about the outstanding program.

“Our goal is to empower our students to be able to read at a distinguished level with fluency and comprehension,” said Bennett. “Utilization of the most current instructional practices — coupled with 21st century technology — provides our students with the best possible resources for academic success.”

Formerly the B.R. Thompson Charitable Trust, the Elgin Foundation’s focus is on the dental, medical, and educational needs of rural Appalachian children in eastern Tennessee, Kentucky, and western Virginia. The late B.R. Thompson, Sr., established the original trust in order to serve the communities where his coal-mining operations were located several years ago.