Ringgold receives corporate donation to support projects throughout district
NEW EAGLE – Ringgold School District plans to use a corporate donation to establish several mini-grants for its schools this academic year.
On Thursday, Ringgold School Board accepted a $5,000 grant from Range Resources, which recently announced that it is establishing an Educational Partnership Program with all school districts that are located within its operating footprint in Washington County.
This partnership will be in the form of a project-based grant program. Each participating school district will receive $5,000 in funding for the 2018-19 school year.
“We will be sending applications to our staff for mini-grants,” said Superintendent Megan Marie Van Fossan. “They can then submit mini-proposals for projects they’d like to do with their students. We’re really excited about this program and are grateful to Range Resources for their generosity.”
Also during the meeting, the board granted permission to Robyn Cornelius, a Ringgold Middle School math teacher, to take middle school students on three field trips this spring, but not before board member Larry Mauro asked if all students are given an opportunity to participate in these outings.
“What about students whose families can’t afford expenses for these trips?” asked Mauro. “What do you tell them?”
Van Fossan said the district handles requests from students who want to go on trips on a case-by-case basis. Money is also generated from fundraisers to help offset costs for these trips.
“There are a lot of generous people out there who help our students take these field trips,” she said. “If someone has a need, we’ll find a way to give them a helping hand.”
Added Van Fossan, “Field trips are important for our kids because it gives them a chance to have experiences. We have kids who haven’t had opportunities to travel. You can read about it in a book or the internet, but having those experiences firsthand is even more special.”
During 2019, Ringgold middle school students will visit Washington, D.C.; Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio; and Gettysburg and Hershey.
In other business, the board:
- Granted permission to the superintendent and solicitor to petition the Court of Common Pleas to appoint Spencer Allen as a school police officer for Ringgold School District.
- Granted teacher tenure to Ashley R. Mutschler.
- Approved payment to Hudson Group Inc. (approved by the architects HHSDR) in the amount of $300,000 for services related to the Ringgold Middle School project.
- Accepted a proposal from Ford Business Machines Inc. in the amount of $1,986 per month to lease two full-size photo copiers for the high school.
- Accepted a proposal from Tritt-Schell Consulting Services for E-Rate Application Services for 2019. This program helps schools to get discounts on technology, such as internet service.
- Granted permission to establish an art club at Ringgold High School.
Before the meeting started, first- and fourth-grade students from Ringgold Elementary School South delivered presentations to the board and guests who assembled at the Ringgold administrative building.