Owensboro Public Schools delivered a total of $22,197 in mini-grants from the Foundation Board of Trustees to schools throughout the district Friday morning.
During the 2020-21 school year, OPS employees donated $17,193 to the Foundation. According to Jared Revlett, OPS public information officer, the donations are mostly from regular payroll deductions from teachers, aides, administrators, board members, and many others.
“The OPS district has a 20% employee participation in Foundation contributions, which is a very high rate for K-12 schools according to the National School Foundation Association,” Revlett said. “This shows the depth of caring from our employees and the needs involved even during a pandemic.”
The following mini-grants were awarded:
- Cravens Elementary School: $2,000 for book vending machine materials – to purchase books and tokens; $2,920 for “Stimulating Minds Socially” – to purchase games/activities for all classrooms; $1,000 for steel pan equipment – to purchase one replacement steel pan and one stand for the 11-year-old Cravens Steel Pan Band.
- Newton Parrish Elementary School: $1,695 for choral riser – to purchase one additional section of choral risers to add to present three sections for larger group of students.
- Sutton Elementary School: $500 for engaged learning days – to purchase materials/games for special hands-on activity days to make learning come alive; $1,890 for ukuleles for music classes – to purchase 30 ukuleles so all students can learn the instrument.
- Owensboro Innovation Middle School: $4,615 for “Virtual Reality and Experiences” – to purchase eight VR headsets and software for 6th-8th grade.
- Owensboro Middle School: $2,000 for OMS choral program artist-in-residence – to pay for expenses for Roger Emerson to work one day with OMS students; $700 for sensory room items – to purchase items for students with disabilities.
- Emerson Academy: $1,188 for raised bed greenhouse gardening – to purchase materials to construct and nurture plant beds and buy vegetables and flowers.
- Owensboro Innovation Academy: $2,300 for robotic arms for computer integrated manufacturing class – to purchase kit for STEM robotic arm with conveyor belt.
- Owensboro High School: $625 for “Bridging the Gaps” – to pay for a Zoom meeting with civil rights activist Ruby Bridges for African American History classes; $154 for Picasso-inspired DIY wire portrait – to purchase craft wire and additional materials for art project.
- OPS Central Office: $600 for the purchase of a new drone – to be used for classroom instruction, teacher recruitment, and district public relations.
