Are there ever enough supplemental books for reading in the classroom? How about art supplies, supplemental materials, technology equipment??? Where does a teacher turn to find supplemental resources for his/her classroom to enrich the academic learning for students? If only additional resources or grant dollars were easily made available to make these exciting ideas come to life. Often teachers spend their own money, turn to Parent Teacher Associations fundraisers or look for grants to help make such projects a reality

For nearly 20 years the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation (BPSF) has funded such projects under the Challenge Grant Program offered by the Foundation. Challenge Grant dollars come from endowed funds within the Foundation that have been designated to support the academic needs for students in ISD 181 classrooms. Projects have always been relatively small, as the grants are awarded only on the interest accrued on the specially designated endowed funds. This year, $3500 in Foundation grant dollars were awarded to thirteen teachers and school counselors to fund nine creative projects. Many of the proposals asked for dollars to support growing classroom libraries, especially high interest non-fiction books for emerging and struggling readers. Help us grow this fund so more teachers will feel our support in 2010!