District 58 Education Foundation gives away nearly $40,000 in grants to schools

The District 58 Education Foundation gave away $40,000 in grants this school year – nearly double the amount it gave away two years ago, and $5,000 over the amount it gave away last year.

“It was truly a pleasure to be able to increase the funding amount this year and see the money put to such good use,” said Education Foundation President Jay Stocki.

Staff were encouraged to apply for grants to enhance curriculum or technology innovations and staff development. The committee received a total of 31 requests.

“It was wonderful to see so many quality requests again this year,” said grants committee chair Laura Crawford.

To ensure an impartial review, all identifying information regarding the applicant(s), their job title and their school were removed from the applications prior to their distribution to the committee. In addition to Crawford, this year’s grant review committee included Foundation Directors Mike Busse, Stephan Upshaw and Greg Bedalov, O’Neill Middle School science teacher Meg Van Dyke, and District 58 Communications Coordinator and Foundation ex officio Jennie Waldorf.

Grants were awarded this winter for the following projects/purchases; the applicant(s) name is in brackets:

  • iPad2/visual arts program implementation for all District 58 schools (Jon Belonio, Sarah David, Elizabeth Lukes)
  • iPad 2s for Belle Aire (Tara Fulton, first/second grade combination class)
  • LCD projector and media cart for O’Neill Middle School (Stacy Swimmer, foreign language)
  • AnyBook Reader for Pierce Downer School (Kelly DeMarco, fifth grade)
  • Document camera for Herrick Middle School (Allison Swade, Language Arts/reading)
  • Wii karaoke to improve reading fluency at Whittier (Christy Gergits, reading specialist and Leslie Brouillett and Donna Stanciewicz, Reading Success)
  • iPad 2 and Apple TV for Kingsley (Kim Wojcik, second grade)
  • SMART board for O’Neill Middle School (Sarah Brost, social studies)
  • iPad 2/iPod Touches and Apple TV for Indian Trail (Robin Bruebach, principal)
  • iPad 2s for Belle Aire (Joan Mommsen, LRC Director)
  • SMART boards for Belle Aire (Patricia Miller, sixth grade)
  • Interactive iPad projection system for El Sierra (Diane Claver and Vann Bennett, third grade)
  • iPad 2 and Apple TV for Whittier (Deb Krygeris, sixth grade)
  • LCD projector and Apple TV for O’Neill Middle School (Tasha Squires, LRC Director)
  • AnyBook readers for Pierce Downer School (Mary Eagan, second grade and Sabrina Breault, first/second grade combination class)
  • iPad 2s for Belle Aire (Heather Howland, kindergarten)
  • iPod Touches to enhance science instruction at Herrick Middle School (Jill Henry, science)
  • LCD projector for O’Neill Middle School (Bev West, Language Arts)
  • Mounted projectors for El Sierra (Maura Prekwas and Meg Adams, fifth grade)
  • SMART board for Highland School (Katie Maurella, fifth grade)
  • Nonfiction leveled readers for content areas at Fairmount (Barbara Potocki, kindergarten)
  • SMART board for O’Neill Middle School (Kate Nickell, Language Arts)
  • iPad 2 and Apple TV system for El Sierra (Julie Iaquinto and Kelly Wyatt, fourth grade)
  • iPad 2 and Apple TV for Indian Trail (Beth Hatlen, kindergarten)
  • Guided reading books for Pierce Downer (Kaitlin Wegner and Catherine Reinert, first grade)
  • SMART board for O’Neill Middle School (Kathleen “Kit” Hamilton, science)

Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has raised and distributed more than $350,000 to District 58 schools. Funding is made possible via Foundation events and programs such as Entertainment for Education, Cash for Kids, the Kelly Miller Circus and online contributions.

In addition to the annual grants, programs sponsored by the Foundation include Sneak Preview for seventh-graders, the Select 58 service and citizenship awards for eighth-graders, and the Distinguished Service Awards for staff.

For more information on the District 58 Education Foundation, visit www.dg58ef.com.