Centerville Education Foundation awards $12,450 to 19 classroom projects

The Centerville Education Foundation awarded $12,450 in classroom grants to 19 projects across Centerville City schools, the foundation announced during a Jan. meeting.

The grants, funded by about 100 donors including a sizable gift from the Centerville New and Optimist Club, will support projects ranging from sensory rooms and art ateliers at Primary Village North to bilingual take-home kits and iPads for newcomer English learners at Primary Village South. Rajeev Goyal, who identified himself as a member of the Centerville Education Foundation board of trustees, told the board the foundation selected 19 projects this year and will distribute checks to teachers who were not present.

The grants will fund a mix of classroom materials and small devices. Examples announced by Goyal included a sensory area purchase (small trampoline, sensory lights, wall sensory board, rocker chair, and mat); 2 iPads and 10 take-home bilingual kits for newcomer students; 13 Wacom drawing tablets for Tower Heights Middle School art; an egg incubator and supplies for a life-cycle chickens project at Primary Village South; and audio-enabled physical books to support literacy equity at Stingley Elementary.

CEF volunteers and student interns Chelsea Stinnett, Claire Dryley and Kate Paulson assisted with the presentation and photography during the announcements. Goyal said the foundation will deliver grant checks to recipients who were absent and invited attendees to visit centervilleeducation.org for more details and to donate.

The foundation described the grants as targeted “above and beyond” curriculum activities; teachers will use funds to purchase materials and supplies needed to implement each project. The foundation thanked parents, alumni and community members for the donations that made the awards possible.

For details about specific projects and contact information, the foundation directs the public to its website.