2008-09 Grants Awarded
$262,400/TOTAL GRANTS
The 2008-2009 grant awards are targeted to help address the budget shortfalls and fund the personnel, curriculum support and technology resources needed to maintain the high quality education our children need for today’s 21st century global economy.
$91,000/Middle School Computer Labs
This grant will be used to update the computer labs at Lake Shore and Steffen Middle Schools including the purchase of 60 new dual platform computers, software, and peripherals. These computer labs will be available to all classes for technology integration and instruction in the classroom.
In addition, these labs will be used by students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades for Project Lead the Way, a curriculum of hands-on, real-world projects that give students the knowledge they will need to excel in high-tech fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
$35,000/English Language Learner Specialist
This grant will fund an English Language Learner specialist who will serve primarily elementary school students with flexibility to serve other grade levels based upon student need. Our district currently has approximately 170 English Language Learners (ELL), representing 15 different languages. While many of the students are proficient, a number of students with lower English proficiency require specific ELL instruction.
In addition to working with students, this ELL specialist will work with classroom teachers to provide coaching and professional development on ELL strategies.
$98,500/SMART Board Interactive Classroom Packages
Funds will once again be used to purchase additional SMART Board Interactive Classroom packages for each of our six schools. Thanks to the generosity of our many donors, this grant will allow us to more than double the number of SMART Boards in our district to 49.
By combining the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer, the SMART Board engages students in an exciting and motivating way. Studies have shown that using a SMART Board in the classroom significantly increases student attention and improves information recall.
Teachers save time and gain flexibility in presenting visual materials and designing lesson plans. SMART Boards allow staff to save classroom notes and post them on their website for parents and students to view later.
$13,200/Staff Development
This grant award will provide staff enrichment and leadership development in order to sustain excellence in the educational process during this fiscally challenging period. Funds will be available across all six schools as follows: $3775 to Homestead High School and $1885 each to Lake Shore Middle School, Steffen Middle School, Donges Bay Elementary School, Oriole Lane Elementary School and Wilson Elementary School. This is the sixth year funding has been allocated to building administrators.
$13,200/Community Relations Plan
In combination with $15,000 from the district, these funds from MTEF will be used to engage an outside consultant for the purpose of development and implementation of a comprehensive community relations plan. The overall objective is to establish community relations as a district management function. The goal is to address internal and external relationships within our community so that our citizens can better understand the challenges and opportunities facing our district and are thereby inspired to become even more engaged.
$11,500 Donor Designated Grants
Individual donors have funded these grants to meet specific needs throughout the school district. The use of these funds is designated by the donor and includes funding items such as teacher awards, staff enrichment opportunities, learning resources and technology equipment.
$262,400/TOTAL GRANTS
We would like to extend a special thank you to the members of our Grants Advisory Committee: Deborah Anderson, Jill Anderson, Eric Dimmitt, Tanja Felton, Pat Hopfensperger, Connie Jaeger, Louisa Marks, Tom Price, Mark Roherty, and Suzanne Zellman.
The 2008-2009 grant awards are targeted to help address the budget shortfalls and fund the personnel, curriculum support and technology resources needed to maintain the high quality education our children need for today’s 21st century global economy.
$91,000/Middle School Computer Labs
This grant will be used to update the computer labs at Lake Shore and Steffen Middle Schools including the purchase of 60 new dual platform computers, software, and peripherals. These computer labs will be available to all classes for technology integration and instruction in the classroom.
In addition, these labs will be used by students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades for Project Lead the Way, a curriculum of hands-on, real-world projects that give students the knowledge they will need to excel in high-tech fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
$35,000/English Language Learner Specialist
This grant will fund an English Language Learner specialist who will serve primarily elementary school students with flexibility to serve other grade levels based upon student need. Our district currently has approximately 170 English Language Learners (ELL), representing 15 different languages. While many of the students are proficient, a number of students with lower English proficiency require specific ELL instruction.
In addition to working with students, this ELL specialist will work with classroom teachers to provide coaching and professional development on ELL strategies.
$98,500/SMART Board Interactive Classroom Packages
Funds will once again be used to purchase additional SMART Board Interactive Classroom packages for each of our six schools. Thanks to the generosity of our many donors, this grant will allow us to more than double the number of SMART Boards in our district to 49.
By combining the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer, the SMART Board engages students in an exciting and motivating way. Studies have shown that using a SMART Board in the classroom significantly increases student attention and improves information recall.
Teachers save time and gain flexibility in presenting visual materials and designing lesson plans. SMART Boards allow staff to save classroom notes and post them on their website for parents and students to view later.
$13,200/Staff Development
This grant award will provide staff enrichment and leadership development in order to sustain excellence in the educational process during this fiscally challenging period. Funds will be available across all six schools as follows: $3775 to Homestead High School and $1885 each to Lake Shore Middle School, Steffen Middle School, Donges Bay Elementary School, Oriole Lane Elementary School and Wilson Elementary School. This is the sixth year funding has been allocated to building administrators.
$13,200/Community Relations Plan
In combination with $15,000 from the district, these funds from MTEF will be used to engage an outside consultant for the purpose of development and implementation of a comprehensive community relations plan. The overall objective is to establish community relations as a district management function. The goal is to address internal and external relationships within our community so that our citizens can better understand the challenges and opportunities facing our district and are thereby inspired to become even more engaged.
$11,500 Donor Designated Grants
Individual donors have funded these grants to meet specific needs throughout the school district. The use of these funds is designated by the donor and includes funding items such as teacher awards, staff enrichment opportunities, learning resources and technology equipment.
$262,400/TOTAL GRANTS
We would like to extend a special thank you to the members of our Grants Advisory Committee: Deborah Anderson, Jill Anderson, Eric Dimmitt, Tanja Felton, Pat Hopfensperger, Connie Jaeger, Louisa Marks, Tom Price, Mark Roherty, and Suzanne Zellman.