At the start of the Sept. 11 meeting, the Tempe Union Education Foundation presented this year's educator grant awards.

Katie Phelan, representing the Foundation, said the organization is giving away "just over $33,000" to projects that will affect about 6,000 Tempe Union students and that every district school will receive at least one grant. Phelan invited grant authors and recipients to come forward for recognition.

Selected recipients named at the meeting included: Nick Taylor (bridge improv theater workshops), Rai Beloto (tactile task boxes for special education), Leah Gilbert (AVID program support), Jennifer Muñoz (student-run coffee shop), Elizabeth Pease (lighting and design for dance), Amanda Johnson (makerspace materials), Scott Werner (mallets for percussion), Laurie Elizabeth Robinson (kindness campaign and mural), Charlotte Windsor (library revamp at Tempe High; accepted by Dr. Maya Lehi), Chris Rooney (economics fair and scholarship program), a McClintock bicycle curriculum team (with students Nathan Shayer, Ethan Burns and Silas Butler), Chris Rademacher Gorovitz (Desert Vista science classroom veneers) and Christian Oettinger (professional effects mixers and microscopes at Marcos de Niza).

Superintendent Dr. Wilson and board members thanked the Foundation for supporting classroom innovation.

Quote: "The Ed Foundation is giving away... just over $33,000 and the impact will be on 6,000 Tempe Union Students and their grants going to every single 1 of our schools," Katie Phelan said.

What was not decided: The grants were recognition and did not require board action beyond receiving the report. The Foundation and district will proceed with project implementation and photo recognition at the meeting as noted by staff.