Next Grant Application Deadline: March 18, 2013

Grant History

In the spring of 1998, the Education Foundation of the Fairfield Public Schools awarded $1,700 to teachers who applied for funding to purchase materials to enhance students’ learning experiences in their classrooms.

Pursuant to its mission to assist teachers in their efforts to engage students in learning, and to supplement District funds, the Foundation went on to fund additional requests.  To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $243,000 to benefit Fairfield  Community School District classrooms.

Education Foundation Fall 2012 Grants

The Board of Directors of the Education Foundation of Fairfield Public Schools awarded a total of $18,536 to 24 teachers.  Available funding was increased by $5,000 through a grant award from the Greater Jefferson County Foundation.

Teachers are using technology to present materials and skills to entire classes and also incorporating strategies that allow students to engage with technology on their own.  Funding for technology included computers for student use in middle school music, electronic visual document cameras for elementary and high school classrooms, three interactive whiteboards for elementary, listening centers and ipod shuffles with headphones for a kindergarten classroom.

The Board continued its support of the high school’s Project Lead the Way curriculum which engages students in activities that lead to careers in engineering, science, mathematics and technology:  funding to purchase two robotics design system kits was granted.  An application from two elementary teachers to purchase a science kit to engage students in the study of levers and pulleys was also funded.  A request from high school science for 15 triple beam balances was funded as well.

Awards to music, art and physical education included watercolor pads, ipod sound docks, speakers/amplifiers and a channel mixer.  Two requests for classroom libraries of leveled books were funded, as well as, materials for word building and math work station activities.

The Foundation funds grant requests from district teachers in October and April each year.  The Board seeks to promote excellence in education through the use of private revenues.  The Foundation promotes the use of current technologies to engage students and enhance their learning and supports teachers in their efforts to provide innovative programming for students. 

Information about the Foundation Board, past grants and making tax deductible contributions is available on the district’s website at www.fairfieldeducationfoundation.org.

Education Foundation Spring 2012 Grants

The Education Foundation of Fairfield Public Schools awarded 13 grants totaling over $9,000 during the recent spring grant period of 2012.  The Education Foundation invites teachers to submit applications, fall and spring, for the purchase of equipment or materials that will enhance the quality of students’ educational programs but have not been provided by the school district owing to lack of funds. The application includes a description of how the students will use the equipment or material and why it is needed.

The items awarded include: four laptop computers for the Middle School music and band departments; a digital microscope camera to be used in 5^th grade science; classroom reading books, reading games, theater scripts, math resource books, and reading centers for elementary classes; two iPad2 for special education purposes at Washington School; nine tables wired for electricity and internet for the Ag department at the High School;  a video presentation camera for 6^th grade language arts;  pre-school reading and games material; and a grocery store market to assist with math skills for Libertyville kindergarten.

Donations to the Education Foundation are tax deductible and may be sent to Education Foundation of Fairfield Public Schools, Inc. at 403 South 20^th, Fairfield, IA 52556 or visit www.fairfieldeducationfoundation.org for more information on donations, grants awarded, board members, teacher testimonials, and pictures.