Cool Communities Working Together with Science Teachers
ISTA has been invited to organize a special opportunity for members of our organization to implement class projects that partner with your local municipalities during the spring and early summer of 2008. The East Richland School District in Olney is expanding its Mathematics and Science Partnership to allow for mini-grants that provide seed money to address challenges that face Illinois communities with their students and community leaders. ISTA is partnering with the Illinois Municipal League to emphasize how our members are vital community members and the impact of working together will powerfully affect our Cool Communities.
Reference materials and possible sources of expertise and ideas for your applications to receive funding up to $500 for community environmental research, action plans and implementation can be found on the following page: Project Inspiration.
ISTA COOL COMMUNITIES Expectations
ISTA is seeking a new source of funding to continue the Cool Communities Minigrant program beyond the 2008-2009 school year. Check back here for details.
For the Grant Reporting and Reimbursement Form, see COOL COMMUNITIES Timeline
GRANTS ANNOUNCED
ISTA announced on February 25 the following science teachers are recipients of $500 cool community grants for the 07-08 school year
- Mr. David Abendroth, Red Hill High School, and his students working with the City of Bridgeport to plant trees in Lanterman Park.
- Mrs. Molly Godar, Rochester High School, and her students working with the Village of Rochester and IL EPA Lake Education Assistance Program on pond monitoring and renovation in the Rochester Village Park.
- Mr. Gary Swick, Dundee-Crown High School, and his students working with the Village of Algonquin and a BP ‘A For Energy’ Grant on the “Check Air for Clean Air” project aimed at improved auto efficiency by properly inflating tires and educating drivers about ways to reduce carbon emissions.
ISTA announced on June 23 the following science teachers are recipients of grants for the 08-09 school year:
- Ms. Patricia Parsons, biology and environmental science teacher at Gage Park High School in Chicago, working with the Friends of the Chicago River. $1,000 for water testing materials and supplies to monitor water in the Chicago River. High school students will help train grade school students and develop both English and Spanish language materials for community support of improved water quality.
- Mr. Jeff Janes, science teacher at Andrew High School in Tinley Park, working with the Andrew Green Team and the District 230 Foundation. $500 to support activities including a school and community paper recycling program, a reusable water bottle project, a butterfly garden, an environmental awareness seminar, and a nature photo and poetry contest with best entries published in a 2009 calendar.
- Mr. John Clark, science education consultant and retired teacher working with 12 schools and the Embarras River Management Association. $500 for materials to help train teachers and their students in monitoring and measuring the Embarras River.
- Mrs. Coleen Martin, fifth grade science teacher at Wilder-Waite School, Dunlap District, Peoria, working with community organizations and her school board. $1080 to help pay for a 10KW power generating windmill for this school. Teachers, students, and parents will learn about wind generators through touring a windfarm, analyzing costs and benefits, building the generator, maintaining it, and using its energy production.
- Mrs. Kristi Van Hoveln, sixth to eighth grade science teacher at Milford Grade School. $500. Working with fellow teachers, the Milford Youth Center, and local business owners, Van Hoveln and her 6th grade students will research plant varieties and costs; select, plant, and maintain plant materials in downtown planters; work with downtown Milford businesses in beautifying the business districts through plantings; and recognize their collective work through local news articles.
- Ms. Patricia Parsons, biology and environmental science teacher at Gage Park High School in Chicago, working with the Chicago Conservation Corps, grade school teachers, and the Environmental River and Conservation Club. $1000 for a field trip and materials to train teachers and to develop a vermicomposting facility for school food waste. The resultant rich organic fertilizer will be provided to Gage Park citizens. Univision and Spanish language publications will be provided with information to inform parents and other Gage Park citizens.
- Mrs. Jill Carter, biology teacher, Pekin High School working with the City of Pekin. $750 for a project to train and equip teachers, students, and citizens to use reusable cloth shopping bags, to reduce waste, and to publicize this conservation practice at community events.
- Mrs. Molly Godar, life and earth science teacher at Rochester High School, working with the Village of Rochester. $1750 for laboratory and field equipment to train teachers and students in monitoring and surveying a village park pond. This is an expansion of a successful 07-08 project.
- Mr. David Abendroth, biology teacher at Red Hill High School, working with the City of Bridgeport. $1420 to expand an existing tree planting project in a city park to include planting more trees and securing technical equipment to monitor chemical and physical parameters of soil and water.
All nine recipients (plus the 07-08 Algonquin tire inflation project organized by Mr. Gary Swick) were also granted up to $500 of funding to “showcase” their projects at appropriate venues, such as community, professional, or municipal meetings.
Currently the mayors of 27 Illinois cities with about 4.1 million citizens are committed to the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and this program was designed to help them meet their commitments especially related to education.
For the Grant Reporting and Reimbursement Form, see COOL COMMUNITIES Timeline