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Kent City Schools highlights Special Olympics supporters and awards six teacher grants
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting the Kent City Schools Board heard from Special Olympians, recognized long-serving volunteers, and accepted $3,000 in teacher grants from the Portage County Retired Teachers Association for six classroom projects.
Superintendent Tom Larkin and assistant superintendent Justin Gates opened the Jan. 14 meeting by recognizing community volunteers, students and teachers for work with Special Olympics and school-based programs.
Assistant Superintendent Justin Gates introduced Chrissy Watts, a Special Olympian who spoke about fundraising for Special Olympics Ohio and asked for community donations: "As Special Olympics athlete myself, I can tell you the benefits," Watts said. Gates and the board said they would place flyers and a QR code on a table to accept donations.
The board also recognized Linda Ferlito for more than three decades of work with the district’s Special Olympics program and announced a commemorative bench to honor her service.
Jim Moniqua of the Portage County Retired Teachers Association presented six $500 teacher grants to Kent teachers. Moniqua said the association’s scholarship and grant programs began in 1994 and later expanded to teacher grants to fund classroom innovations. The six grants and their purposes announced at the meeting were:
- Julia Baldwin (Staunton Middle School) — sensory room equipment upgrade (not present at meeting). - Ellen Budd (Davie) — after-school musical theater supplies. - Kristen Kipan (Davie) — Story Champs oral-language kits for K–3. - Amber Hardwick — coding and robotics classroom materials. - Carrie Harris (Roosevelt) — entrepreneurship program supports, including entry fees and prototype materials. - Kristen Ross — accessible iPad technology to support students with multiple disabilities.
Moniqua told teachers the checks would be given to the district treasurer and that funds could be spent beginning the following day.
The board also heard brief recognition remarks from Dr. John Sikar of the Portage Master Gardeners, who presented $500 teacher grants for garden-related classroom projects at Olden Elementary.
Superintendent Larkin closed his report by thanking volunteers and the winners, and noting the high participation of students and volunteers in the district's athletic and Special Olympics programs.
No formal board action was required to accept the recognitions or the grant awards beyond acknowledgement and presentation of certificates and checks to the district treasurer.
