ARMONK, N.Y. - The Byram Hills Education Foundations award of 12 grants totaling $115,566 to the Byram Hills Central School District, which was approved by the board of education at its March 6 meeting, is less than last years amount of $234,921, but its not due to a lack of BHEF funds, according to Leslie Ilany, the organizations president.
This years amount is less than in the past because of the mix of ideas proposed by the teachers. Some years theres a higher amount of tech initiatives so the grants may be higher, Ilany said. We have a reserve that were careful to manage and the amount we grant each year is a reflection of the proposals submitted by teachers.
This years grants support programs at all four schools, which BHEF has outlined on its website. Coman Hill will receive over $3,000 for Me on the Map, a child-friendly map of Armonk for first graders that features local points of interest that will be available on an interactive SMART Board® Notebook file.
A grant of over $11,000 to Wampus will pay for FUNdations Reading and Writing, a program for third graders that teaches early language skills with a systematic, hands-on approach.
H.C. Crittenden Middle School received a grant of more than $4,700 for Glogster EDU, a web-based program that allows students to create media-rich, interactive posters
A grant of more than $9,000 for Byram Hills High School funds equipment to replace outdated exercise machines in the BHHS Wellness Center.
Jackie Taylor, superintendent of Byram Hills schools, said the grants are innovative, developed by our teachers and enhance our curriculum. They provide opportunities for kids that promote creativity, imagination and monitor development skills.
Taylor is involved in budget negotiations for the 2012-13 school year and said the BHEF grant money is outside the standard budget.
Our budget needs to be sensitive to tax payers, so they raise money outside our budget process, Taylor said.
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