The Kearney School District Education Foundation board recently voted to fully fund all of the Teacher Innovation Grant (TIG) applications submitted for the 2018-2019 school year. This decision was made after the Foundation held its quarterly meeting in May. Through the generosity of the KSD staff and community the Foundation has seen in the past few years, the board is able to grant each applicant their requested funding, totaling $9,556.57.
Each year the Foundation awards grants to select applicants based on the review process. The Foundation has budgeted $7,000 in funding for these projects. While that is an outstanding amount to give back to the teachers and their classrooms, each year there are grant applicants that are unable to receive funding. This year the Teacher Innovation Grants were awarded, and again, there were applicants that were unable to receive the funding, but after careful consideration and evaluation of the Foundation finances, the board decided that each innovation grant would be awarded in the coming school year.
The decision was made based on the outstanding amount of support the Foundation has seen in the past few years through the fundraising efforts by the organization. Each fundraising event has seen an increase in participation allowing for more funds to be raised. One example of fundraising comes directly from the KSD staff themselves. Kearney School District holds an annual event called Pay It Forward. During a specified time in the school year, staff members can elect to donate money to one of 3 local charitable organizations and the Foundation is one of them. Additionally, the Foundation has seen an incredible amount of support at its annual Rise and Shine for Kids breakfast fundraiser as well as our Thanksgiving Turkey Trot and Ford Drive For UR School event.
The TIG program enables the Foundation to assist staff members with funding in areas that go beyond the regular school district budget.
To learn more about the Kearney School District Education Foundation, visit www.ksdef.com.
