The Board of Directors of the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation has awarded grants totaling $54,538 to seven Vestavia Hills schools and the Vestavia Hills Board of Education.
The Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, provides grants each year to Vestavia Hills educators for technology improvements, classroom enhancement projects and professional development opportunities for teachers. All Vestavia Hills teachers and the Board of Education may submit grant requests to the Foundation each fall.
The Foundation currently has a grant-making endowment of more than $2 million. The principal endowment is invested, and only the interest earned on the principal is used to fund grants. Since providing its first grants in 1999, the Foundation has awarded $606,373 to Vestavia Hills city schools and the Board of Education.
“I strongly encourage all Vestavia citizens to become part of this endeavor by making a contribution to the Foundation,” said Dr. Jamie Blair, Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent. “As everyone is well aware, we are still suffering from a loss of state funding in all school systems throughout the state. In Vestavia, we are very lucky to have the Foundation to help provide the support we need to enhance our students’ educational opportunities. We are proud to have one of the best school systems in the country. Funding from the Foundation helps continue this standard of excellence.”
Some of the grants awarded this year build on successful projects funded in previous years. This year’s $22,000 grant to the Board of Education, for example, will provide training opportunities for every teacher in the Vestavia Hills school district to further incorporate the state’s Common Core Standard.
“Providing this professional development training opportunity to all of our teachers is a huge undertaking,” said Sheila Phillips, Vestavia City Schools assistant superintendent. “We would not have the resources to do this without the Foundation’s support. These training workshops benefit every school, every teacher and in turn every student in our system.”
For more information about the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation, visit vestaviafoundation.org or contact the Foundation’s Executive Director Ashley Thompson at 978-8808.
Grants awarded this year include:
Elementary West $4,000
Purchase iPads to expand computer lab.
Vestavia Hills Elementary East $4,000
Purchase iPads to expand computer lab, equip the school’s Enrichment program and provide for general school use.
Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park $3,500
Provide summer professional development opportunities for teachers to focus on Common Core Language Arts Standards.
Vestavia Hills High School $8,045
Purchase iPads for 10th grade physical science students and continue professional development program to convert chemistry classes to inquiry-based and to meet Common Core Standards.
Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights $3,255
Purchase an iPad syncing/charging cart and a TV for the lobby to display important school information.
Vestavia Hills Elementary Central $4,000
Purchase iPads and software to help create computer lab for students in conjunction with the Bring Your Own Device program.
Pizitz Middle School $5,738
Purchase iPads for the Media Center for check out by students and teachers in conjunction with the Bring Your Own Device program.
Vestavia Hills Board of Education $22,000
Provide summer professional development opportunities for district’s 500 teachers, focusing on science, social studies and language arts in preparation for Common Core Standards.
-Submitted by Vestavia City Schools
