Manchester Educational Foundation awards mini‑grants; board recognizes students and staff

The Manchester Educational Foundation, represented by president Rick Campan, told the board it had more than $12,000 in mini-grants this year to award to teachers for projects outside the regular budget. Campan said the foundation has operated for over 12 years and distributed individual checks to teachers who applied and were selected.

Named recipients and projects mentioned during the meeting included Jessica Stabb (second-grade readers support), Tara Chaikin (preschool alphabet-sound teaching cups), media specialist Valente (STEM equipment), Minish (playground communication board for preschool), Duran (listening station for multilingual learners), and Tumi (‘Eyes of the Wild’ animal-rescue presentation for third grade). At Regional Day School, Allison McCann, Leslie Hall, Megan Romanowski, Alex Jacoby and Alice Gorana were cited for sensory-integration and sensory-room equipment requests. At Whiting Elementary School, projects included kindergarten technology requests and a physical education initiative.

Separately, the board recognized student leaders involved in a cereal drive that benefited an Ocean County food bank and celebrated an athletics milestone (a first female high-jump clearance over 5 feet indoor in 20 years). The meeting also included thanks to two staff members, Mr. Stapp and Ms. Testa, whose on-site emergency actions helped a student reach the nurse for evaluation.

Rick Campan said the foundation presented checks to teachers at the meeting; the chair invited teachers to join a group photo. The board and community applauded students and staff during the recognition period.

Next steps: no fiscal action by the district was announced at the meeting beyond public acknowledgment of the grants; the foundation’s awards fund projects that the district budget did not cover.