Blaine County Education Foundation:
Awards Professional Development Scholarships and Grants
June 22, 2011
The Blaine County Education Foundation (“BCEF”) announced the recipients of its scholarships for attendance at the College of Southern Idaho Summer Spanish Institute. The BCEF has funded scholarships to teachers and paraprofessionals for professional development to attend the CSI Summer Spanish Institute since 2008. This year’s recipients are:
- Amy Bingham WRMS
- Lydia Flynn Hemingway
- Dena Bauchman Woodside
- Dan Gralenski WRMS
- Tristan Gralenski WRMS
- Amanda Ewig Hemingway
- Erika Greenberg WRHS
- Janice Moulton Woodside
The BCEF also completed its spring cycle for awards of mini-grants to the area public schools. Grants totaling over $8,000.00 were awarded to Wood River High School, Hailey Elementary, Hemingway Elementary, Bellevue Elementary, Carey Elementary and Woodside Elementary. The Grants from BCEF benefit every area of academic life from teacher professional development to providing classroom materials such as light tables, books and art materials. The grants benefit students from kindergarten (phonetic reader), to high school (participation in national debate tournaments). The BCEF will award another cycle of grants in the fall of 2011.
The grants and scholarships were made possible this year by a successful annual campaign. This year, the campaign grossed over $31,000.00 in support for its Can Do Fund, grants and scholarships.
Significant contributors to the BCEF this year were the Papoose Club, Little Black Dress Club, Idaho Community Foundation, Montgomery Foundation, Board Members of the BCEF, and the Wood River Women’s Charitable Foundation. Total contributions to the BCEF for the fiscal year were over $160,000.00. “We especially thank the local charitable organizations such as the Papoose Club, Little Black Dress Club and the Wood River Women’s Charitable Foundation and Atkinson’s Markets” said co-chairman Mike Burchmore. “Their support provides funds which directly benefit the children, teachers and schools of this valley.”
The BCEF Can Do Fund assists students of the Blaine County School District with direct financial support by providing funds for school-specific supplies, activities, programs and fees to allow all students to experience education equally. Examples of items the Can Do Fund has supported are:
- Health Insurance, physicals, uniforms and shoes for students to participate in school sports or PE
- Advanced Placement Test fees and College Dual Credit fees
- Elective fees
- Field Trip insurance and fees
- School-specific supplies, anything required for participation, such as sewing kits and lab fees.
- Agendas
- Instrument rentals and repairs
This year the BCEF will enlarge the Can Do Fund to include the new Can Do Academy. The Can Do Academy will supplement the needs of all students in Blaine County to provide targeted funds in areas that the school district may no longer provide such as after-school enrichment programs and professional development.
The Blaine County Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to focus community resources and raise funds for the Blaine County Schools, students and teachers in order to promote academic excellence, equitable education and a healthy student environment. For more information on the Blaine County Education foundation, please contact Becky Benson, Interim Executive Director, at 208-578-5449 or its website at www.supportbcef.org.