Make classroom dreams come true online
Let's say you attended School District 129 schools, became a successful scientist and attained fame and fortune beyond your wildest dreams. And you know where your inspiration began — in a third-grade science class.
You want to make sure other children get the same chance to transform their lives, and would be willing to donate some money to help make that happen.
What can you do?
The A+ Foundation for West Aurora Schools might have the answer. The foundation's new Fund-A-Need program allows teachers to publicly post grant requests on a Web site so anyone can donate money to the program.
Part of this effort is not new — teachers have filled out project grants for many years. The twist is that instead of the foundation sifting through all the applications in private and selecting which ones are funded, the public can take the lead and fund the programs themselves.
"Using the technology of the Internet, donations can be made to specific programs or general program areas that (the donor) feels strongly about," said Dennis Cromien, A+ Foundation president. "It opens up the ability to do more."
The idea for Fund-A-Need came from a school district in Lincoln, Neb. Cromien and other foundation volunteers learned about it at a conference and officially unveiled the program to teachers this school year.
Visit donate.aplusfoundation.org/fund-a-need.php, where you can search through a variety of programs, including the World War II History Alive program at Jewel Middle School, an English as a second language program for Greenman Elementary parents, and a College Bound program at West High.
Teachers can fill out a grant application through the site. The foundation reviews the grants before posting.
The foundation still accepts general donations and will continue some fundraisers, including the April 17 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor dinner. If funding is needed for a program deemed "essential" by the foundation and the deadline for the event is approaching, the foundation itself may step in and provide the necessary money.
But the foundation sees the Fund-A-Need model as something to build on, especially during tough economic times when it's more difficult to raise general funds.
This program is also a way to incorporate alumni more directly into the fundraising efforts. The foundation has sent marketing materials about Fund-A-Need to key city leaders and alumni, and is conducting outreach in other ways, including face-to-face meetings with potential donors and presentations to service clubs.
"We want to enhance the academic experience for these kids, to make them better students, better citizens, and better members of the workforce," Cromien said.
The first program to receive funding was the McCleery Elementary Brainfood Reading Club, which received $300 to buy books that will help second-graders. The program began this school year and allows students to read and take Accelerated Reading tests to help their comprehension.
"They are gaining the confidence to begin taking tests on their own," said teacher Kay Volkert. "This will encourage them to take books home and complete their reading homework on their own."
Bulletin board
- There will be no school Wednesday because of Veterans Day.
- The "Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe" will be performed at Jefferson Middle School at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
- A school board meeting will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 in the West High library.
This week's question
Which school was named after a former superintendent who invented the stereotypewriter and created the first electric clock?
A West High T-shirt will be awarded to the first reader who delivers the correct answer to Mike Chapin at mchapin@sd129.org or 630-301-5044. For more information about District 129, visit www.sd129.org.
District 129 Throughout Time
The answer to last week's question was that the three-story West High structure at Galena Boulevard and Blackhawk Street opened in the fall of 1906.
Mike Chapin is the community relations director for School District 129.
