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Rochester Public School Foundation awards $10,351 to five classroom projects
Summary
The Rochester Public School Foundation presented its Grama Awards and described five grants totaling $10,351 during the Jan. 21 Independent School District 535 school board meeting.
The Rochester Public School Foundation presented its Grama Awards and described five grants totaling $10,351 during the Jan. 21 Independent School District 535 school board meeting.
Foundation director Ron Meneker told the board the nonprofit has “awarded over $650,000” since 1988 and that the Grama grants are seed funding for teacher-led innovative projects. The foundation described the awards as coming from donations, payroll contributions, fundraisers and memorial funds.
The grants fund five initiatives. Christie Downs, who teaches in a transition program, said the grant will pay a music therapist to run four weeks of classes for 40 students in three groups. A third-grade teacher at Gibbs Elementary described a “Launching into Literacy” book-club pilot buying diverse texts tied to unit themes such as outer space and “a new home” so students can lead discussions and build reading stamina. The Rochester Alternative Learning Center team described a Green Bandana Project chapter, a peer-support program that trains students to connect classmates to mental-health resources and uses a visible green bandana to signal trained peers. Hoover Early Learning School staff described a climbing wall for 3- to 5‑year‑olds to build confidence and gross‑motor skills. The ALC also plans a multisensory “reregulation” room for students who need a quiet space to calm and return to learning.
Board members thanked the foundation and grant recipients. Director McLaughlin noted several grants were awarded to the Alternative Learning Center, and Director Clark praised the foundation for funding educator innovation. Meneker reminded the board that the foundation accepts donations and runs two grant cycles each year.
No board action was requested; the presentation was listed on the agenda as an information item.
The foundation said it uses a “highly refined transparent criteria evidence based process” to select awards and invited board members and community members to volunteer in the review process.
