Last of Technology Fundraising Presented to School Board

The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education presented a $350,000 check to the school board Monday as the last segment of a technology fundraising effort. Additionally, the foundation gave another $3,406 to the district for other programs. 

Board members unanimously approved the donations and thanked Foundation President Robert Bury for the organization's efforts. Superintendent C. Suzanne Klein also told board members about how much the technology funds have impacted the learning experience throughout the district. 

She said it's rare to enter a room where a SMART board, student clicker or another form of technology paid for through the foundation isn't being used. Teachers often stop her to show her how well the technology is helping their classroom, she said. 

The $350,000 check is part of in which $830,000 was raised through a challenge by a private family foundation--John A. and Marlene L. Boll Foundation. The Boll Foundation offered to match every $1 raised by the education foundation with $2 up to $250,000. This gave the education foundation the opportunity to raise a total of $700,000.

The Foundation for Public Education surpassed the goal earlier this month raising an additional $80,000 for a total of $830,000. Bury thanked the many donors explaining it was parents, grandparents, non-school related entities locally and even farther away. 

Grosse Pointer, Dr. Russ Chavey, helped raised about $60,000 for the campaign challenge through in December. Chavey shared his experience as he climbed the mountain in hopes of helping the and to highlight the challenge in hopes of generating additional support. 

The Foundation for Public Education also gave $3,406 to support several enhancement programs in the district.

A program called No Bullying Allowed will be introduced at each of the middle schools. The program calls for a monthly assembly addressing bullying issues and promotes students rights to learn in a safe environment. The middle schools will each receive $500 to pay for supplies.

The foundation also granted $1,150 to a project at North High School in the physics department for a cardboard boat regatta project in which students must design a cardboard rowboat that will support the weight of two students. At the end of the project, a regatta will be held in the swimming pool. The project is aimed at having students use their problem solving skills. 

Another $756 is being donated to the preschool program at Barnes Early Education Center for Handwriting Without Tears. The program is a curriculum developed by two of the preschool teachers that is age-appropriate and aims to introduce reading and writing with a hands-on emphasis using music, movement, coloring and building to enhance their early education.