The Monroe Education Foundation awarded 31 grants for schools’ programs during 2006-2007.
By: Leon Tovey
MONROE Another class of students at Barclay Brook Elementary School will have the opportunity to learn about life from ladybugs next year thanks to a grant from the Monroe Education Foundation.
The foundation awarded 31 grants, totaling $55,294, to township schools in December, Foundation President Rich Salvadore said last week. The money will be used for programs during the 2006-2007 school year ranging from a memoir-writing workshop at Woodland School to in-class ladybug colonies at Barclay Brook.
"The goal is to encourage creative new approaches to teaching," Mr. Salvadore said. "The schools all write grant applications and we select the ones we think will have the biggest impact and greatest educational value."
Carol Schwalje, principal of Barclay Brook Elementary, which with 16 grants was the district’s lead grant recipient for the second year in a row, said funding from the foundation has been a crucial element in the school’s efforts to "raise the bar" in its approach to education.
Among the programs funded this year by foundation grants are a march 21 visit by a portable planetarium, called "Shooting for the Stars," and the appointment of Philadelphia-born poet Lamont Dixon as "writer in residence" at the school for two weeks in February Ms. Schwalje said.
The school plans to use next year’s grant money more than $28,000 to expand its math and reading programs, she said.
The foundation, which was created in 1995 by township resident Jim Ungerleider to help fund technology upgrades at the schools, received 45 grant applications this year the most ever, Mr. Salvadore said.
At the same time, the foundation has increased the number of grants it gives out. In 2003, the foundation gave out 11 grants for the 2004-2005 school year and last year it gave out 21 grants, totaling $37,433, for the 2005-2006 school year.
Mr. Salvadore credited that growth to the success of the foundation’s two primary fundraising events, a golf outing and a car raffle. This year’s car raffle will be held at the Forsgate Country Club on May 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., he said. First prize will be a 2006 Lexus IS 350 valued at $39,000 and second prize will be a 2006 Pontiac Torrent valued at $26,000.
More information on the foundation is available at its Web site, www.monroeedfoundation.org. Tickets for the May 9 raffle can be purchased for $100. Each ticket includes cocktails and dinner for one at Forsgate. For more information, call Mike Gorski at (732) 521-1500 or e-mail Mr. Gorski at [email protected].