Franklin City Educational Foundation donates $8,000
Published 10:41 am Friday, November 15, 2013
FRANKLIN—To help teachers get supplies that may otherwise not be in the budget, The Franklin City Educational Foundation is there to help.
On Nov. 12, the Franklin City Public School Board accepted a donation of $7,971.49 from the education foundation, which formed 10 years ago.
“We fund a lot of things, thanks to the help we get from the community,” said Jim Jervey, who is the foundation board’s president. “We received about six grants this year, and it’s providing funds for some neat things that our kids can take advantage of.
“Our motto is doing whatever it takes,” Jervey added. “We’ll do whatever it takes to enhance the educational experience in Franklin for our kids.”
Some of the items that teachers received to benefit children include a set of short story books to help promote reading for middle school students. They were requested by seventh-grade teacher Diane Dovell. The books come with a teacher edition, which helps students tailor lessons around the stories.
The S.P. Morton first-grade teachers received writing kits to help students with their writing earlier. Edith Scott requested the kits, which are called the Trait Crate.
J.P. King Library Media Specialist Tammie Wilson requested sports books.
“When you are trying to get the attention of young men, sports books are a great way to hook them,” said Benny Burgess, who’s on the foundation’s board.
At the high school, Library Media Specialist Suzanne Blythe received some new cameras.
“We got a couple of high speed cameras to use throughout the high school,” she said. “The yearbook staff and I will use them to cover the school and get the good news out with better quality pictures.”
High school arts teacher Sumner Bradshaw also received a new kiln, which will help students work with ceramics, and that would help tie in history lessons with art, specifically Greek and Roman culture.
Gifted teacher Elizabeth Burgess received funding to help the high school robotics program go to competitions, which are expensive to attend.
The foundation also sponsors scholarships for a Franklin High School graduates.
Chairperson Edna King, who was a charter member of the foundation, applauded the group for helping the schools over the years.
“That there, is something we as a community can do to help the schools,” she said in regard to the community helping build Franklin City Public Schools back up.
“We certainly appreciate all of your hard work,” King said to the members of the organization.
She also took a moment to applaud the teachers for their efforts to teach the students.
“Now we can see that teachers are interested in being creative in their classrooms,” she said. “I congratulate them on their success in this.”
The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that accepts tax deductible donations. To donate, contact the office of Burgess and Burgess, where the foundation keeps its books, at 569-8156, or by talking to any of the board members.
“I would like to thank our board that takes their time to help the kids, and I want to thank all of our donors in the community for their support,” said Jervey. “They are the ones actually supporting our students.”