Warren County Educational Endowment awards more than $46K in grants to WCPS projects

The Warren County Educational Endowment (WCEE) awarded $46,721 in grants to projects sponsored by Warren County Public Schools for the 2021-2022 grant cycle.

Members of the Warren County School Board and Warren County Public Schools (WCPS) Superintendent Christopher Ballenger accepted a check from representatives of the Warren County Educational Endowment during the board’s March 2 meeting. The check represents the 2021-2022 grants awarded by the Warren County Educational Endowment to WCPS-sponsored projects. Photo courtesy of George Karnes.

“The Endowment believes that sometimes it takes private support of public efforts to cultivate an idea or approach that helps students compete in a global marketplace, instills a passion for life-long learning, and sparks a vision to stretch for success,” WCEE President George Karnes told members of the Warren County School Board during their Wednesday, March 2 regular meeting.

Karnes said WCEE strives to be a community support tool for teachers, students, staff, and parents that helps ensure graduates of Warren County Public Schools (WCPS) may lead successful lives.

“Our mission is to serve as a catalyst for the continuing improvement of the learning environment in our schools,” said Karnes.
WCEE accomplishes its goal, he said, by funding WCPS-sponsored projects that are consistent with its mission and direction; initiating ongoing improvement in the fundamental capability of the school system; and enhancing the attractiveness of the community through the promotion of educational excellence.

Karnes also told School Board members that the Endowment currently provides grants of roughly $50,000 a year to WCPS but intends to grow the principal of the endowment to $2.5 million by 2025. In turn, that amount would generate an estimated $125,000+ per year in grants to support public education in Warren County, he added.

“The corpus [principal] of the endowment is invested, and the income is used to directly assist in promoting creative efforts to foster educational excellence for the children of Warren County,” said Karnes.

The WCEE 2021-2022 grant recipients, project titles, and award amounts are:

1. Ginger Newton, Engaging and Reaching Students on Their Levels, $397.

2. Faith Falkenstein and Justyne Louk, Focusing on an Abundance of Achievement, $15,000.

3. Dr. Allison Filandino, Let’s Get Moving, $5,000.

4. Michael Williams, Turning the Corner, $5,600.

5. Samantha Morrison, Sensory Room Updates, $1,200.

6. Ben Bailey, Trout in the Classroom — Raise and Release, $1,644.

7. Katie Priest, ServSafe Certification for Elements Students, $150.

8. Grace Croson, 6th Grade Reading, $330.

9. Jen Davis, Recycling Club Carts, $800.

10. Randa Vernazza, Brighter Futures Recess and Playground Area, up to $15,000 match.

11. Emma Vanderlinden, The Use of Happy Atoms to Support Kinesthetic Learners, $1,600.

“The Warren County Educational Endowment feels a compelling commitment to our mission of helping the local school system support high level and creative programs for our children,” said Karnes.

He also pointed out that because WCPS has had to contend with making difficult decisions during its budget season, the school division “needs our support now more than ever.”

“With these 11 grant awards we feel that we have been able to give a spark to creative thinking and continue to encourage the spread of the use of technology as a tool for advanced learning,” said Karnes.