Parma City foundation awards 34 educator grants totaling $14,387

Parma City School District trustees heard a presentation from the district’s education foundation and recognized 34 teacher grant recipients totaling $14,387.26.

The foundation’s representatives told the Board that the educator-grant program, funded through fundraising, donations and bequests, supports classroom and schoolwide projects that fall outside typical budgets. The foundation said the maximum grant award this cycle was $500 and that grant recipients must use awarded funds within one year.

The presentation, introduced by Dr. Smiley and foundation volunteers, listed projects across elementary and middle schools, including multisensory math activities, reading-support programs for newcomers, video production equipment for Parma Academy of Gifted Enrichment, sensory rooms and phonics materials. Jackie Marconi, identified in the meeting as principal of Green Valley, and Kim Childs, introduced as PEA educator of the year, participated in presenting the awards. Melissa Wolf, identified as the foundation’s treasurer, handed checks to recipients during the recognition.

Foundation leaders described the organization as volunteer-led and said it has raised more than $400,000 for the district over 14 years. They invited the community to a fundraising event, Taste of the Towns, scheduled for Sept. 24 at the Woodside Event Center at St. Michael’s (as announced during the meeting). Foundation members emphasized that their grants aim to seed innovative instructional approaches that district budgets cannot readily support.

Board members and district staff thanked the foundation and praised the teachers and their projects. No board vote was required or taken for the foundation’s grant awards; the items were recognition and distribution of foundation funds.

The district read aloud the full list of grant recipients and asked attendees to hold applause until all names were announced; recipients came forward to receive checks.