UNION SPRINGS - When Terry Chandler worked for the Union Springs Central School District, her favorite job was cafeteria duty.
She'd sit with the students as they'd eat their lunch, play games with them and screen movies. And sitting in the cafeteria also reinforced her philosophy about each child's potential.
“I always felt that every child was special in their own way,” she said.
During Chandler's time working in schools, she realized that while the district was doing all it could for students, it couldn't provide additional materials and opportunities to augment classroom education because of budgetary restrictions.
“Teachers may want things to enhance education and make the school better,” A.J. Smith Elementary School Principal Karen Burcroff said, “but in hard economic times, the school district may say, ‘Nice wish list, but no-can-do.'”
That's where the Union Springs Education Foundation Inc. steps in.
Two years ago, Chandler began forming an education foundation dedicated to providing funding for educators in the Union Springs public schools by way of competitive grants and scholarships to finance anything that would enhance education but is outside the general school budget. Such grants could pay for field trips, books, technology and staff development, among other things.
“We have to be able to help the school district out so they have all the extras,” Chandler said, “and this is what the foundation will do.”
A steering committee was formed, then a board of directors and two weeks ago, the foundation officially became a non-profit corporation and is now open for business. Burcroff is an advisor for the board but does not vote.
The foundation is now seeking financial donations and organizing fundraisers to fund the scholarships and grants. One such idea is “Build a Brick,” an opportunity for people to purchase a brick and have it engraved in memory or honor of someone, then placed at a district site. The foundation is also planning to organize galas, golf tournaments and other events.
The whole goal of the foundation and these projects, Burcroff said, is to have Union Springs students look outside the box and be better qualified for the global world.
“(The projects) have to align to make us better so our graduates have more skills and are better qualified for the world to make them competitive in whatever field they are working towards,” she said.
“It's not just a cool project. It's something that's going to make a difference.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
“I always felt that every child was special in their own way,” she said.
During Chandler's time working in schools, she realized that while the district was doing all it could for students, it couldn't provide additional materials and opportunities to augment classroom education because of budgetary restrictions.
“Teachers may want things to enhance education and make the school better,” A.J. Smith Elementary School Principal Karen Burcroff said, “but in hard economic times, the school district may say, ‘Nice wish list, but no-can-do.'”
That's where the Union Springs Education Foundation Inc. steps in.
Two years ago, Chandler began forming an education foundation dedicated to providing funding for educators in the Union Springs public schools by way of competitive grants and scholarships to finance anything that would enhance education but is outside the general school budget. Such grants could pay for field trips, books, technology and staff development, among other things.
“We have to be able to help the school district out so they have all the extras,” Chandler said, “and this is what the foundation will do.”
A steering committee was formed, then a board of directors and two weeks ago, the foundation officially became a non-profit corporation and is now open for business. Burcroff is an advisor for the board but does not vote.
The foundation is now seeking financial donations and organizing fundraisers to fund the scholarships and grants. One such idea is “Build a Brick,” an opportunity for people to purchase a brick and have it engraved in memory or honor of someone, then placed at a district site. The foundation is also planning to organize galas, golf tournaments and other events.
The whole goal of the foundation and these projects, Burcroff said, is to have Union Springs students look outside the box and be better qualified for the global world.
“(The projects) have to align to make us better so our graduates have more skills and are better qualified for the world to make them competitive in whatever field they are working towards,” she said.
“It's not just a cool project. It's something that's going to make a difference.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
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Me43 wrote on Oct 8, 2008 3:20 PM:
Marsha wrote on Oct 8, 2008 11:50 AM:
FREBUS49 wrote on Oct 8, 2008 9:56 AM:
thinksensibly wrote on Oct 8, 2008 8:32 AM:
I invite all parents and taxpayers to count on your calendars, the number of: staff development days, superintendent's days, days and 1/2 days off for parent-teacher conferences, extra days tacked on to holidays, not to mention the spring break and winter break (full weeks), in addition to all the holidays and snow days.
I certainly recognize that the teachers do not determine the days off of the school year, but someone needs to address this issue. When you add up all these days off, its no small wonder why our education system is as poor as it is... why we have graduates who can't write or do basic math. "
stevedallas wrote on Oct 8, 2008 8:25 AM:
bizzaro-world wrote on Oct 8, 2008 7:33 AM: