And here is a problem, the school board has no money... remember last year, when residents had to vote for a tax hike so teachers could keep their jobs? Why in the world does a K-8 system need smart boards? What is wrong with the current dry erase, and chalk boards? To spend any money on smart boards in this current economic climate is irresponsible.

Now I understand that this grant is specifically for Smart Boards, but it just seems silly. This foundation could instead outfit a school with new desks, or fund new textbooks (things primary schools actually need) rather then technology that is more suited for secondary and post secondary education.

JJ, this is one grant out of dozens that the district/foundation are most likely pursuing. Just because this one is more publicized, it doesn't mean it's the only one. I have been writing grants for years for classroom projects and earned $60,000 in grants for alternative energy projects (solar, biodiesel, effecient lighting) in my first five years of teaching. Could that money have been used for textbooks, desks, retaining teachers? No, it was only eligible for "green" projects. I never applied for textbooks and desks because that's someone else's job. I'm an old-fashoined chalkboard teacher most of the time, but I will gladly vote for anything that makes my fellow teachers present their material more efficiently, stay on top of technology and inspire their students to learn.
And if anyone wants any help writing grants for their own classroom projects, I'll be happy to help, just email me and you can buy me some Caribou coffee while we talk about it.

Thank you Science Guy, I didn't fully understand this grant system. If the school were to get these SMART boards, do you know what grades they would be used in? It seems to me that they would be more beneficial in Junior High classrooms as opposed to elementary programs.

J.J., Foundation 153's mission is "to meet the challenges of funding educational experiences beyond the school district's reach." Their focus extends beyond basic infrastructure, textbooks, and the like (although quite a lot of the Foundation's grants have been for the purchase of supplemental books and specialized reading materials). Also, since the Foundation exists to fund projects proposed by District 153 teachers, the SMART boards, like all other Foundation-funded projects, will be used in the District's K-8 schools.

It may interest you to know that SMART boards have already been in use in some classrooms, and both teachers & students are enthusiastic about them. So I disagree with you that they would benefit older grade levels more; how well a child performs at elementary levels, how effectively he or she is engaged in learning, has a tremendous impact on how well that child does later on. A technology that works so effectively to capture the attention and imagination of elementary-aged children is absolutely an appropriate investment for the Foundation to support. As Science Guy pointed out, this grant wouldn't supplant school district spending or other sources of school funding, but supplement them -- at no cost to District 153 taxpayers.

Thanks to Foundation 153 for pursuing this great opportunity for students in Homewood. Please take a minute to vote and post a comment. Thanks to great community support we are currently in 1st place. Voting ends October 9; it will be great to put Smart Boards in more classrooms and improve learning opportunities for our students.

Voting ends this Sunday at 4 pm, and we're holding on to just the narrowest of leads! Have YOU voted yet? Come on, HF Patch Community, PLEASE help us win this one for the kids!

4 hours left to vote and we are in 2nd place...PLEASE help our kids and take a minute to vote! Thank you!!!

4 hours left to vote and we are in 2nd place. PLEASE help our kids and take a minute to vote for Smart Boards for Smart Kids! Thank you!!!