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SCOPE presents grants totaling about $4,000; board agenda includes grant approvals
Summary
SCOPE, the district special-education PTO, presented nine grant requests covering adaptive equipment, sensory and reading aids and an ER program trip; the grants were listed on the business agenda for board approval.
SCOPE (Special Children's Organization for Parents and Educators), the district's special-education parent organization, presented its grant program to the Marlboro Township Board of Education and requested approval of nine grants totaling just over $4,000.
What SCOPE funds: the volunteer group explained its application and review process and said the grants cover items not typically paid for by the district budget, such as adapted playground equipment, read-aloud pens, hallway sensory enhancements, a science trip for an ER program and assistive tools for autism classrooms. Vice president Jessica Purnick and treasurer Alicia Thor outlined that this year 12 grant requests arrived from seven of the eight schools; SCOPE prioritized based on need and cost-effectiveness and collaborated with Special Services staff to ensure items were not otherwise budgeted or provided through IEPs.
Why it matters: SCOPE fills gaps for students with special needs by funding classroom supports and sensory tools. The board's financial agenda included a resolution to accept SCOPE's donations and to approve the grants; trustees were briefed that the grants would appear under the Financial and Business Operations matters and would be on the vote that night.
Grant highlights: SCOPE said the package includes three rhythm-and-balance adapted swings (for Abbott's autism classrooms), an adapted swing for Robertsville, read-aloud pens for Marlboro Middle and Asher, hallway hopscotch for Dugan, sensory hallway enhancements at Asher and a speech-to-text microphone for Memorial sixth graders; the ER program at Morrell requested funding for a Liberty Science Center trip.
Next steps and vote: SCOPE's treasurer said selected items would be purchased through vetted vendors and presented to staff; the board agenda later listed the grants under item 12 (donation from SCOPE) for approval. During the consent-vote sequence the board recorded approvals for the financial agenda items; the district will process purchase orders and coordinate deliveries with school staff.
Taper: SCOPE said it raises funds through community events and plans future activities; board members encouraged broader PTO and district support for outreach so more schools take part in the grant application cycle.
