I’d start a program at our HS that would fund students’ extracurricular programs (summer and during the school year) - they’d have to find the programs they were interested in and apply for funding. I think this is one area where the divide between haves and have nots is really felt and each student should have at least one chance to ask themselves “what really interests me, if I could go do/study/see anything, what would it be?” Think how infectious it would be once students started to return to the school and shared their experiences with friends. I think this is the keystone for an educated, thoughtful person and once it’s set in place, will continue lifelong.
Another quick thought is to provide, at our local public high school, a boarding option, maybe in the last two years. Of course it would have to be scandal free and tightly regulated. Our HS has a mixed population by any measure, including a local homeless shelter. There are many sides to boarding pro and con, but it would be interesting to have an option if transportation, meals, time commitments, family issues, etc. are such that living with family or guardians during the week isn’t optimal.
I’ve had the first thought for some time, but the last one just came as I allowed myself to dream what I would do with the money.