Public school systems across Middle Georgia that are getting Race to the Top grants have different goals when it comes to spending the money.

In Bibb County, which will get about $13.3 million during the next four years, the money will be used in four different areas, said Kathy Reese, the school system’s interim deputy superintendent of teaching and learning.

“We’re presenting as many innovative ideas as we can to bring about positive changes,” she said.

The biggest share -- about $5.4 million -- will be used to help turn around struggling high schools. The program will start with Central High School, using money to increase math and Advanced Placement training for teachers, as well as provide math and graduation coaches for the school.

Four other Bibb County high schools -- Rutland, Northeast, Southwest and Hutchings Career Center -- will get funds in the fourth year of the grant, because those schools are already getting three-year School Improvement Grants from the state.

Reese said another $3.9 million will be spent during the next four years to train teachers in new effectiveness measures being developed by the state, which is revising its current evaluation instrument.

Money in this area also will be used to provide bonuses to teachers who are willing to teach math and science at the high school level, as well as master teachers and department chairs. Reese said the grant required applicants to use at least 30 percent of the funds they received for this purpose.

Beginning in the 2013-14 academic year, she said, teachers also will get a bonus if students show improvement on their state test scores.

The rest of the grant money will be divided into two areas. About $470,000 will be used in an area called Standards and Assessments, which will be used to train students and purchase supplemental science learning materials for grades 3 through 8.

Reese said the state will begin counting science as part of its “adequate yearly progress” assessment for grades 1 through 8 beginning next year.

Finally, money will go toward training teachers and administrators in new data systems the state is developing, for which the Bibb system will be one of the pilots. The state is picking up most of the costs in this area.

Peach, Pulaski, Treutlen

Pulaski County schools will use its $1.4 million toward academic improvements at Pulaski County Middle School, implementing the Georgia Performance Standards and the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards and professional development, according to the district’s plans for the funds.

Some of the expenditures included in the district’s Scope of Work outline include $297,000 in salary and benefits for merit-based pay, money to increase personnel in areas such as math, science and special education that are difficult to staff, and funding for a graduation coach, literacy and math coach through the 2014 fiscal year.

The district also will distribute surveys to parents and students to provide feedback about some parts of the plan throughout the process, said Superintendent Janis Sparrow.

“We’re very excited about having those opportunities,” Sparrow said.

While Peach County will receive $1.3 million over four years through Race to the Top grants, it will get just under $40,000 this year for professional learning, according to Jeff Fitz, the district’s assessment/testing coordinator.

In the last year of the program, more of the money will go toward implementing merit-based pay for staff.

“You have the seat at the table in the decisions made,” Fitz said. “By not participating in the process, you forgo that opportunity and let the decision be made by others on your behalf.”

Treutlen County, which joined Race to the Top after Jones County opted out of the program in October, also will receive $1.3 million through the grant.

To contact writer Phillip Ramati, call 744-4334. To contact writer Andrea Castillo, call 256-9751.