Public Education Foundation Presents Four Grant Awards

During the June 19 School Committee meeting, members of the Coventry Public Education Foundation presented four grant awards to Coventry educators to be used to purchase classroom tools and materials.

Foundation Secretary Audrey LaChance gave a brief background of the foundation and spoke to attendees about past awards that have been given out including nearly 1,000 "Phonics Phones" to Coventry elementary schools and in conjunction with a shoot-out fundraiser.

"Through fund-raising efforts and generous donations, these are the first annual academic grants that we've given out," said LaChance.

Grant applications were sent to schools in March and the foundation received seven proposals. Of the seven, four are being either partially or fully funded.

teacher Peter Stetson was awarded a $186.77 grant to pay for wood screws, fertilizer, limestone and hay bales to complete a Community Garden at the school. Coventry Lumber will donate the boards.

teachers Rekha Saran and Jennifer Graham received a $813.67 grant for the purchase of a ProScope HR CSI Science Level 2 Microscope. If either teacher is willing to use their $350 contractual classroom stipend toward the purchase of a ProScope HR Advanced, the foundation will award an additional $53.57 to allow for the advanced model.

teacher Brenda Dadekian received a $440.97 grant for the purchase of a ProScope HR Digital Microscope.

teacher Kathleen Sullivan was awarded a $1,763 grant for the purchase of previously agreed upon equipment from Vernier Technology to improve student science skills.

"I couldn't thank you more and couldn't be more appreciative of you," said Committee Chairperson Kathy Patenaude of the foundation members. "You do an awesome job, really great work."

"This has been a long time coming and they have done some incredible work getting to where they are," said Superintendent Michael Convery.

The CPEF is in the process of scheduling a Comedy Night at the Coventry-West Greenwich Elks Lodge, a nighttime glow-in-the-dark golfing event at Jamestown Golf Course and a wine tasting to raise funds for the foundation.