CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State Department of Education officials are almost ready to let new schools apply for the second round of innovation zone funding.

Shortly after Labor Day, schools can apply to become the newest innovation zones. The Legislature has set aside $435,000 for planning grants, according to Donna Peduto, innovation zones coordinator for the state Department of Education.

Innovation zones allow schools to waive many state laws and policies -- such as requirements in the school calendar -- and also allow teachers to try out new, creative strategies to improve student learning.

In January, state Board of Education members approved 19 innovation zones across the state. Some of the innovation zones are at single schools while others combine two or more schools.

"We're really excited," Peduto said of the second round of funding. "We think that we'll have even more [apply] this time."

The applications are due back to the state Department of Education on Dec. 15.      

Two Charleston schools, Piedmont Elementary School and the unfinished West Side Elementary School, are two of the first 19 innovation zones.

The West Side school received more than $33,700 to plan for the changes, while Piedmont received nearly $28,000.

Piedmont Principal Steve Knighton was not available for comment Thursday afternoon.

Mellow Lee, the future principal at West Side, said teachers at the old Chandler and Glenwood elementary schools are already using the new strategies in the classroom.

The schools have been renamed West Side Primary and West Side Intermediate and will consolidate next year in a brand new building at the corner of Kanawha Boulevard West and Florida Street.

Teachers and staff at the schools have immersed the students in Stephen Covey's books "The Leader in Me" and "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." Covey is an author, teacher and organizational consultant who is the co-founder and vice chairman of FranklinCovey Co.

Teachers have seen children's behavior improve at both schools, and Lee described one of the funny stories about the students using the language that Covey emphasizes in his books.

This summer, Lee went to pick up her son at the North Charleston Community Center's swimming pool. She saw some of her students there, and one child noticed that another boy was in trouble in the pool. After the second-grade student helped out and everything was OK, he said to Lee: "Mrs. Lee! Did you see me? I was proactive. I saved his life."

Students also say "yes ma'am" and "no sir" and take on leadership roles. For instance, two students in Paula Hill's second-grade class at West Side Primary (the former Chandler) greeted visitors who entered their classroom one day last month.

"They're understanding what we're teaching and applying it to their life," Lee said.

West Side Elementary also received a $29,000 grant from the Benedum Foundation, which goes beyond the planning grants.

A team that includes Lee and four teachers are trained "Covey facilitators" who work with other teachers and the family members of schoolchildren to help create a culture that uses Covey's methods and extends beyond the classroom.

The Benedum grant will help train more teachers, staff and family members in Covey's principles, Lee said.

"It's in every classroom and it's every day," Lee said. "Teachers take the training they received and implement [Covey's] seven habits into the classroom.

Reach Davin White at davinwh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1254.