There are many ways our district seeks to be a leader when achieving our mission statement of building thinkers, building experiences, and building connections, but there is one thing they all have in common: they require money. We can either use money collected as tax revenue or seek outside funding in the form of grants, and this month’s second Knight Insight features two grants our district and teachers within our district have received to improve our community and school.
Van Buren Vitality: A Community Service Learning Project
Cassie Ohlrich, Gifted Coordinator and Vantage teacher, has written many grant proposals over her time at Van Buren, and the latest one she received is the Building Community Through Neighborhood Revitalization grant from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.
Van Buren students in both the middle and high schools complete service projects throughout the year, including the Mr. Yunker Middle School Day of Service in October and High School Community Service Day in May, and this grant will provide continued opportunities for students, staff, and village residents to work on projects that will revitalize our community.
The goal of the grant, which includes $12,925.00 of funding, is to beautify public spaces, make the village safer through repairs and clean-up, boost community spirit, and enhance Van Buren’s quality of life by strengthening the bonds between students and the community.
With the guidance and support of Van Buren mayor Ed May and the work of people of all ages throughout the community, we will continue to make the village of Van Buren and our school district a source of pride.
2025 Van Buren Schools Education Foundation Grants
The purpose of the Van Buren Schools Education Foundation, an independent, 501(c)(3) entity funded by the generous donations of individuals and businesses, is to provide funds for projects that are outside the funding our school district receives. A portion of those funds is then passed on to our teachers and programs in the form of grants each year.
This is the second year grants have been conferred, and this year’s recipients were Brianne Greer, Grades 3-5 Intervention Specialist, and Mackenzie Leonard, TESOL Coordinator.
Greer, who is in her first year at Van Buren Elementary, had been eager to convert a portion of her classroom into an independent task box center after seeing similar setups in other rooms. When she saw the chance to apply for the VBEF grant, she realized it was a way to build on her current resources to create new possibilities for her students. With a cube storage organizer already in her classroom, she will use the $498.82 she was granted to purchase items such as place-setting materials (silverware, plates, cups, etc.) and tools to independently practice academic skills like math and reading. Greer’s resource room includes students who have exceptionalities, and all of the items are meant to help students increase their academic growth and independence.
Leonard’s grant funds totaling $1,900.00 will be used to add to the limited supply of translating devices currently in use in the school district to help students who speak English as a second language (ESL) and their families communicate in a variety of settings. For example, if an ESL student is riding the bus and tries to communicate with the bus driver or vice versa, it can be challenging for everyone involved. With the new translating devices, the bus driver will be able to choose the language, press a button, and speak into the device. The device will then repeat what the driver said in the student’s native language. Multiple devices will be available to the transportation department, there will be at least one in each office, and others will be available to be checked out when staff need them. What Leonard likes most about these devices is that they don’t prevent the ESL students from working on their English skills, but they are tools the students and others can use to clarify directions or build social relationships despite the language barrier. The tools will also add a new layer of comfort for parents when they are communicating with the school. Whether it is riding the bus or participating in a parent-teacher conference at school, these devices will ensure that all information is conveyed clearly and accurately, which will benefit both families and school employees.
The foundation hopes to have approximately $4,500 to dispense during the next grant cycle during the 2025-2026 school year.
We appreciate the efforts of our staff members to seek out additional funding to improve our community and provide new opportunities for our students, and the support we receive from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation and the Van Buren Schools Educational Foundation is greatly appreciated.
Cover Photo: Marie Swaisgood, Van Buren Schools Education Foundation Board Member, presents Brianne Greer (top) and Mackenzie Leonard (bottom) with their grant checks.
To learn more about what is happening at Van Buren Local Schools, visit our website at vbschools.net.
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