Thanks to a grant from ALA-TOM Resource Conservation and Development, a state agency, R.B. Hudson Middle School received $5,000 in funding Tuesday for their SMART Boards, which are interactive whiteboards.

Noopie Cosby of ALA-TOM RC&D explained that the grant served as a reimbursement to Selma City Schools for the purchase of several SMART Boards. Currently, R.B. Hudson has 10 SMART Boards used in English and remedial classes to teach students relative skills.

Tuesday, students in an eighth grade remedial class at R.B Hudson demonstrated to State Rep. Darrio Melton and State Sen. Hank Sanders how the boards are put to use.

“This is just another way for our students to learn in an interactive way,” said Logan Searcy, principal of R.B. Hudson. “With technology changing, this gives us a way to keep up with our students and how they learn.”

Drue Lee, teacher at R.B. Hudson, expressed her gratitude for the grant, saying how it allows her to connect with her students in a more interactive way.

“The students’ response to the SMART Boards have been great,” Lee said. “The quality of this equipment is exceptional; we’ve been using it a lot in the classroom.”

The SMART Boards grant is one of many projects ALA-TOM RC&D has implemented throughout Selma and Dallas County. Cosby said the SMART Boards grant was given in an effort to directly benefit Selma City School students and give more teaching opportunities to school administrators.

With this new addition, Cosby said he hopes learning will be enhanced throughout the school system — yielding better, more educated students.

“We are very thankful for this,” Searcy said. “This is just another way that R.B. Hudson is improving and progressing. We thank RC&D for this grant.”