TALLAHASSEE, Fla.(WTXL) — For one Tallahassee prep school they say grant money has made all the difference in the world for keeping its students protected.
Brownsville Preparatory Institute is welcoming students back into the classrooms.
"We were prepared to home school," said Sharon Lettman- Hicks.
A quality education in a safe environment a priority for most parents right now.
"We have parents that need to work. A lot of first responders. But there was fear. What could happen to my child. What could happen to my staff," said Rita Brown, Brownsville Preparatory Institute, LLC.
At Brownsville Preparatory Institute in Tallahassee, $2,000 from the Greater Frenchtown Southside CRA is easing concerns.
"This grant literally enabled us to purchase a sanitizing machine. That sanitizing machine allows us to go into the classrooms on a daily basis and fog the tables, the chairs, the different things that are so worrisome," said Brown.
The school reopened for summer classes as a way to see how things would flow.
That extra effort even changing the minds of parents.
"We were prepared to keep him home and distance learn because we can. After that 3 weeks at Brownsville, we decided we would give it a try," said Lettman- Hicks.
Sharon Lettman-Hick's 6-year-old son attends Brownsville Prep.
She says from their plans to social distance and even asking kids to wear masks, there's many factors that make her happy her son is at the prep school.
"We're blessed enough that it's a prep school that has smaller class sizes," said Lettman- Hicks.
The school is set to re-open fully August 10.
The CRA board is meeting again on Monday.
They plan to discuss affordable housing in Frenchtown and a plan to redevelop six family lots in the area.
