Center Line, Warren

CLPS Educational Foundation celebrates 10-year milestone

By Maria Allard
C & G Staff Writer

WARREN/CENTER LINE — Teachers in Center Line Public Schools are always looking for ways to enrich their students’ academics through various projects and activities.

They sometimes stumble upon road blocks because money through the district’s general fund is not available.

But there is always a chance they will to bring that learning concept to the surface, thanks to the Center Line Public Schools Education Foundation. The foundation provides money for projects that are not available through the district’s budget.

The foundation — which includes educators and business and community leaders — provides grant money to the district’s educators every year. Since forming in the fall of 2002, the foundation has awarded at least $163,000 in teacher grants.

Foundation Chairperson David Chivas said the foundation was the vision of retired CLPS Superintendent Terry Follbaum, who is one of the foundation members.

“Even after he retired, it was his dream to get this started,” Chivas said.

Retired Center Line High School Principal Lynda Bonucchi echoed that thought.

“Terry said to me, ‘Linda, I’d like to get this rolling,” Bonucchi said.

In the past decade, grants have been awarded for a wide range of projects, including playground equipment for physically challenged students, an elementary school rocket project, classroom literacy libraries, resources for the middle school Science Olympiad, a courtyard update at CLHS to improve environmental understanding, Spanish literacy materials for the elementary schools and much more.

“We have some programs in place that are always ongoing or new,” Bonucchi said.

To apply, teachers fill out a three-part grant application that asks for specifics, including the total cost of the project, a one- to two-sentence summary and how it benefits students. The grant review committee reads and scores each grant individually, and then through group discussions, recipients are chosen.

“Everybody brings a really good and different perspective to judging the grant (applications).” Bonucchi said. “People look at the world of work perspective. We’re looking for creativity. We’re looking for something that will spark student interest.”

This past October, foundation members distributed eight grants from 16 applicants. Grant amounts are $600, $1,200, $2,500 and $5,000. Educators who didn’t receive grants were encouraged to try again.

“People know we only have so much money we can dole out,” Chivas said.

And past recipients can apply again for other projects. Applicants can apply as a lone teacher or in a group.

The foundation also provides $500 scholarships to two graduating seniors and supports travel for student competitions. Additionally, the foundation donates $250 per year to the Michael Agrusso Legacy Scholarship. The social studies teacher passed away in 2005, and the foundation and the high school’s social studies department provides a $500 scholarship to a student in the social studies area.

Money is raised in various ways, including the foundation’s popular vacation raffle in which tickets are sold in the fall. The group, unfortunately, lost some funding due to the elimination of the beverage consortium, of which the foundation was once a part.

“A portion of the profits from machines went into the district,” Bonucchi said. “When the consortium ended, we were faced with a sizeable decrease in funding.”

That loss amounted to $13,000 to $15,000 per year. In light of the decline, foundation members are asking current CLPS staff members to donate “a couple of dollars per paycheck” to the cause. Letters also went out to retirees, and to date, retired personnel have donated a total of $1,390.

Foundation members have the opportunity to see the projects in action through presentations by the recipients.

“We have some people who received grant money give presentations at our meetings,” Chivas said.

Presentations also have been conducted at CLPS Board of Education meetings.

The foundation meets four times a year, and subcommittees meet in addition to that.

Donations for the CLPS Educational Foundation can be mailed to the Center Line Public Schools Administration Building at 26400 Arsenal, Center Line, MI 48015. Donation forms also are provided on the district’s website at www.clps.org.
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1045.