The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools yesterday awarded $140,052 in grants to Springfield Public Schools for the 2011-12 academic year.
The foundation's Back to School grants, awarded for projects such as technology and new programs, benefit more than 52 schools, according to a news release.
“One reason we are so proud of our Back to School program is because it gives teachers and principals an opportunity to think outside of the box and go above and beyond to provide more opportunities to reach their students,” said Jana Bachus, executive director of the foundation, in the release. "Each school in the district has received support through this program, and all the dollars raised throughout the campaign go back into the classroom."
Community Foundation of the Ozarks committed $25,000 to the foundation's Back to School effort, designating its funding for "high-impact" projects benefiting multiple schools and/or multiple teachers, according to a separate news release from CFO.
The largest amount provided to a single project in the foundation's round of grants was $9,878, which came from the CFO funding. It goes toward SPS' Early Childhood sites for the Parents Involved in Education: Healthy Habits program.
Glendale High School received five grants totaling $27,147. One of the grants - $6,599 from the CFO funding - will provide 10 iPads for the school library.
“This type of technology is what’s going to be expected by these students,” said librarian Shellie Foltz, who submitted the application with librarian Marilyn Harris, in the release.
Other grants provided by the foundation range from aiding overseas projects to music and drama programs. The full list of grants made for the 2011-12 academic year can be viewed on the
foundation's Web site.
Glendale Principal Matt Pearce said he encouraged teachers to apply for grants for resources not funded through the normal operating budget.
“In this economy, I don’t think any of these opportunities would be funded otherwise,” he said in the release.
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools raises and distributes funding for the school district, managing more than 150 funds and scholarships.[[In-content Ad]]
