Annual classroom ‘wish list’ a basic needs package: Schools requesting $400 grants for clocks, other necessary supplies

When the Rotary Club of Sebastopol started its Teacher
Mini-Grant program almost 10 years ago, the annual “wish lists”
submitted by teachers were actually wishes. This year’s list of
applicants is more about “needs” than simple “wishes.”
Where teachers once requested field trip funds, science
experiment materials or a new wall map, this year’s list included
paint brushes, erasers, classroom clocks and other very basic
classroom items.
A total of $22,954 was applied for by 68 teachers from 17
schools. The Rotary Club can only fund just under half that amount
with proceeds it raised from last year’s benefit Crab Feed.
It should be no secret what has been happening to local school
budgets over the past several years. But if it is, one only need
look at the unmet needs and wishes included in the Teacher Mini
Grant files.
“The truth is we’ve been making do with less and less for
several years now,” said Guerneville School Superintendent Elaine
Carlson. “We need too many other essential things before you would
ever get to a wish list these days.”
Carlson asked for a grant to purchase 14 clocks for her
classrooms. She said she made that request because other needs for
things like art and music program help are more likely to get
support from other sources like parents or from school fund
raisers.
Other classroom requests submitted this year included
projectors, white boards and erasers, science books, volleyball
equipment, a CD player, artist brushes, musical instrument repairs
and a microscope.
Laguna High School’s science teacher Richard Pearson requested
the microscope.
“Students are much more engaged and learn concepts better when
they are using their senses,” Pearson said. His classroom has three
microscopes but his class has grown in size and he needs extra
equipment.
Forestville teacher Theresa Genter asked for $164 to purchase
two sewing machines. “We have some donated sewing machines but they
are old and break down frequently,” she said.
The Rotary Teacher Mini Grant program was started in 2002 and
has awarded over $133,000 to West County classrooms since its
inception. The maximum grant awarded is $400. Teachers must make
specific requests that include cost estimates and a brief
description of the classroom activity that is involved.
This year, a second round of grant applications will be received
by the Rotary Club in the spring when another $10,000 will be
awarded.
“You have to remember that teachers once were able to fund more
of their classroom needs from their own pockets,” Guerneville’s
Carlson said.
But very few teachers have received any pay raises and some have
had reduced hours and salaries.
Besides, the Rotary and other civic clubs in West County,
schools have to rely more and more on parent club support and local
business donations.
“We are very lucky,” Carlson said. “We have wonderful support
from our local businesses. Our FOGS (Friends of Guerneville School)
and West County Community Services are very supportive, too.”
A very fun and delicious way for the general public to support
unmet classroom needs is to attend the annual Rotary Club of
Sebastopol’s Crab Feed. All of the net proceeds go directly to the
Teacher Mini Grant fund. The annual Crab Feed will be held Feb. 11,
2012 at Sebastopol’s Holy Ghost Hall.