Boone County Education Foundation awards about $38,000 to 29 classroom projects

The Boone County Education Foundation announced grants to 29 teachers and administrators totaling a little over $38,000 to fund classroom projects across the district.

Brian, a representative of the Boone County Education Foundation, told the board the independent nonprofit's mission is to raise funds to support classroom innovations that would not otherwise be possible under the district budget. He said roughly 99.9% of the foundation's funds go back into classrooms and listed sample projects funded this cycle: hydroponic gardens, beehives, ukuleles, drones, coding and robotics, mental health programs and classroom technology.

The foundation awarded grants to 29 projects, including (project / teacher / school as read on the record): Brenna Asherman (Stevens Elementary) — iPad integration with interactive touch panels; Lauren Barnhill (Boone County High School) — rock band class startup; Amanda Veil (Boone County High School) — biological science microscopes; Lindsey Birch (Cooper High School) — art display infrastructure; Christopher Seane and Nick Doran (Gray Middle School) — Gray Middle School news group; Katrina Centers (Stevens Elementary) — social skills materials; Kevin Daly — "drop the phones, pick up the drones"; Katie Dankle (Stevens Elementary) — building math thinking classrooms; Jennifer Davis (Ackerman) — STEM Explorers Maker Space; Kristen Ewing (Kelly Elementary) — pottery wheels; and others. Recipients present for awards were invited to come forward for photographs.

Brian said the foundation's grant process opens around the start of the school year, uses a judging rubric, and aims to prevent teachers from using personal funds for classroom needs. The foundation said it funded roughly $38,000 this round and will continue the mini-grant cycle in future years.

The board heard the presentation as part of the meeting's "good news" items; no board action was required.