U. S. Senator Richard Burr visits The Learning Center! Charter school

Left to right front row: Teachers Penny Grubbs and Cheryl Catuto, Senator Richard Burr, Mary Jo Dyre (The Learning Center director), TLC! school board member, Dr. Richard H. Knee

U. S. Senator Richard Burr paid a visit to The Learning Center! Charter School in Murphy on Monday, August 20, kicking off a tour of eight western counties in North Carolina. Burr and John Cooper, North Carolina Director of USDARural Development, presented checks to the school for a $48,000 grant and a $40,000 loan for Project READ, totaling $88,000. Sandy Zimmerman, representing Congressman Heath Shuler and Graham Fields, representing U.S. Senator Dole, and Pam Hysong, USDA. Rural Development, were also present.

Mary Jo Dyre, director of The Learning Center!, said the money will be used for technology and materials to supplement the school's reading and math intervention programs. The afterschool program and special enrichment activities will also benefit from the money.

State Senator John Snow (D-Murphy), Commisioners Jonathan Dickey, David Sumpter, and Dana Jones, as well as County Manager David Badger joined the faculty, staff and board members of The Learning Center! for a breakfast.

The Learning Center! is a Pre-K through 8th grade public charter school and was one of the first charter schools approved in the state, having also received a 10 year renewal.