Oakwood Schools Foundation (OSF) announced the results of its spring grant cycle at the recent Board of Education meeting on Monday, May 12. Two new projects were fully funded by the Foundation with a third sharing funding between the Foundation and the Oakwood Fine Arts Boosters. Three additional projects will be fully funded by the Junior and Senior High School PTO.
Nearly $40,000 in grants were awarded this cycle from the Junior and Senior High PTO’s, the Oakwood Fine Arts Boosters, and OSF. Projects funded this cycle include the installation of built-in microphones for The Rick and Jane Schwartz Performing Arts Wing, iPads for the Junior and High School Science Department, a set of choir microphones for the auditorium, a set of five digital video cameras and accessories for video production courses at the Junior High, a vacuum pump to enrich High School STEM courses, and art display panels for use in Junior and Senior High art classes, shows, and exhibitions.
Grants and Programs Chair Emma Butler represented the Foundation at the meeting Monday night, expressing gratitude to donors of OSF for their annual contributions which enable the Foundation to administer this collaborative grants process and provide financial support for programs that enhance the educational experience for Oakwood students and teachers.
Additionally, Oakwood Schools Foundation trustees would like to wholeheartedly thank Emma Butler for her 7 years of service as a Trustee and leader. Monday’s grants presentation marked the final award Emma will present as the Grants and Programs Chair for the Foundation. Emma has led Oakwood Schools Foundation’s grants process for the last 3 years and spearheaded multiple initiatives that have helped OSF fulfill its mission and has enriched the education of Oakwood’s students for years to come, and for that, the trustees are deeply grateful.
This collaborative grants process is a hallmark of what the Foundation brings to the Oakwood community and has many benefits for our schools and for collaborating organizations. This process allows district teachers and administrators to save precious time by submitting a single application that is distributed to multiple potential funding organizations and reviewed by district leadership. Community organizations also share and optimize resources while supporting the most purpose-aligning grants for each organization.
OSF’s grants program is designed to encourage, facilitate, recognize, and reward innovative and creative instructional programs and ideas in education. Teachers, principals, and school administrators may apply for grants to fund projects that benefit individual classrooms or departments. Through this grants program, the Foundation has given over $1 million to the Oakwood City School District since the program began in 1991. For more information, please visit oakwoodschoolsfoundation.org.