March 29, 2024

Newton Community Education Foundation gifts $52K in grants to schools

Newton Daily News

The Newton Community Educational Foundation has awarded grants totaling $40,000 to the Newton Community School District to help offset a difference between changes in State of Iowa funding and district expenditures.

The NCEF Board of Trustees voted to forego its semi-annual review of grant applications from teachers in favor of a one-time $40,000 grant to strengthen classroom budgets.

“The NCEF’s mission is to encourage academic excellence and creativity in the district,” NCEF President Mark Allen said. “The most important way we do that is by assisting educators, and our hope is that through this action teachers will know how important they are and understand how much we appreciate their dedication.”

The benefit to students will be in the area of classroom supplies. For example, at Newton High School, supplies for teachers of courses involving students in real “hands-on” experiences such as agriculture, art, food sciences, industrial tech and science were at risk for decreased funding.

The grant of $40,000 will be divided per-capita by teacher, with campus principals deciding where to apply the funds based on needs within their respective buildings. This one-time grant will help forestall compensating reductions in other areas during the current fiscal year.

In a separate action, the NCEF Trustees awarded $12,000 to Berg Middle School to start an innovative after-school program. These funds were made possible through a bequest from Elizabeth J. “Betty” Dickinson.

Dickinson, an NHS graduate, helped many hundreds of Newton alumni by administering the Maytag Scholarship Program during her 39-year career with the Maytag Foundation. The legacy of Dickinson’s commitment to Newton students continues with this grant.

A club at the middle school will integrate academic support into a larger program that promotes the social, emotional and physical development of students.

“Families across the country are beginning to recognize the tremendous benefits a quality after-school program can provide,” said BMS Assistant Principal Amy Shannon. “Because they can offer an array of activities not always available during the traditional school day, these programs give students many opportunities for growth and learning they might not find elsewhere.”

The Newton Community Educational Foundation has supported educational programs in Newton schools since 1990. Financed entirely through donations, seventeen funds are under management including family, individual, organization, and NHS Class endowments. The Foundation also maintains a General Fund that welcomes gifts of any amount.

For more information, contact director Desiree Cameron at newton.ncef@gmail.com.