Superintendent's
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The Foundation

Grant Information

14th Annual Golf Classic
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Grant Application

Dinner Dance

The Lakeland Staff
Tribute Program

Donations

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UPCOMING EVENT: Monday July 14, 2008 - 14th Annual LEF Golf Classic, Links at Union Vale, Lagrangeville, 153 North Parliman Rd, LaGrangeville, NY 12540. Click here for more information.

The Lakeland Education Foundation, Inc. is a coalition of parents, residents, local businesses, and friends of education in the Lakeland Central School District.

Foundation Goals:

• Support innovative educational programs and activities that would not otherwise be achievable through available public funds;
• Encourage the educational development of Lakeland students and staff members;
• Foster community involvement in the public education process; and,
• Develop partnerships within the community to provide the resources necessary to ensure ongoing support for the Foundation's mission.

Projects that benefit the district are funded through contributions, proceeds from fund-raising activities, or monies obtained through grants from public or private agencies. No Local Tax Dollars Are Used!

Why a Foundation?

Lakeland Schools educate approximately 5600 children, kindergarten through grade 12 in nine schools. The district includes students from six towns in northern Westchester and Putnam counties. In recent years, the amount of New York State aid to Lakeland has declined significantly. The Lakeland Schools provide a quality education for our students. But, it has become increasingly more difficult to fund innovative educational programs that add a richness to the educational experience of our young people. It is the Foundation's goal to support such innovation.

The Lakeland Education Foundation seeks to provide opportunities for the students and staff of Lakeland to expand learning opportunities, to maximize the potential of each student, and to augment the fine work that is already underway in the Lakeland Schools.

Types of Activities Supported

The Lakeland Education Foundation works in a number of areas, including:

• Encouraging enhanced educational experiences for K-12 students.
• Awarding grants to students and teachers to support innovative and enriching classroom or extra-curricular projects.
• Fostering community involvement in Lakeland education.

A number of grants have been given during the past few years. For more information about grants, contact Betsy Davis at 845-987-4869 or send an e-mail to at LEF@lakelandschools.org.

How to Help

• Contribute to the Lakeland Education Foundation, Inc. Contributions are tax deductible.
• Donate your time to help with fund raising.
• Participate in Lakeland Education Foundation supported projects by volunteering your own expertise.

If you are interested in helping with this important work, please contact the Foundation.

If you are interested in helping with this important work, please contact the Foundation by writing to Lakeland Education Foundation, P.O. Box 132, Shrub Oak, NY 10588 or contact Chuck Newman, LEF president at 914-345-1000 or 914-962-0247, or by email: chuck@charlesnewman.com

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Foundation Grant

The Lakeland Education Foundation provides financial support for worthy projects or activities that will enhance the educational experience of students in the Lakeland district. If you are interested in helping with this important work, please contact the Foundation by writing to Lakeland Education Foundation, P.O. Box 132, Shrub Oak, NY 10588 or contact Chuck Newman, LEF president (chuck@charlesnewman.com).

Grant Application Form

• Grant Application (MS Word format) Fill out on line, tabbing to get from field to field. Save, print (for your records) and e-mail as an attachment to lef@lakelandschools.org).
• Grant Application (pdf format- Print out, fill in by hand and mail)

Eligibility

Any student residing in the Lakeland School District or any teacher, administrator or staff member at any of the schools in the district may apply for support. The eligible schools include not only the public schools of the Lakeland Central School District, but also accredited private schools (grades K- 12) whose student body consists predominantly of Lakeland district residents, and community groups associated with the Lakeland schools, such as the Parent-Teacher or Home School Associations.

Projects that initiate substantive changes in the curriculum, or the way in which the curriculum is taught, or projects that enrich the curriculum both in and out of the classroom are all open to consideration. A list of prior sample grants funded is available upon request.

Criteria for Granting Awards

Projects submitted for funding should be instructionally innovative and enrich the educational experience of the target student population. Proposed activities may be directly related to curriculum content or further develop students' critical thinking skills, attitudes or career goals. Projects also need to address the New York State Learning Standards. Applicants must also demonstrate that the proposed project is feasible within the requested budget including supplemental funds available.

The target student population is another important element in the evaluation of applications. Activities having a broad impact upon a large group of students are appropriate, but high impact activities for smaller numbers of students are also appropriate. The Foundation is particularly interested in projects that are innovative and effective and will continue to enhance the educational experience of students beyond the initial grant period. Evaluation of the project effectiveness is critically important.

Applicants must provide the criteria and process that they will use to evaluate the project's effectiveness. Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed project is feasible within the requested budget, including any funds available from other sources. The Foundation will not fund projects or line items within a project budget that currently exist within the school budget. Budget requests that supplement available funds are appropriate. The Foundation is particularly interested, however, in providing seed money to launch projects that, if successful, could be incorporated into the regular school budget in subsequent years.

Selection Criteria

• Is the project innovative and does it enrich the educational experience of the target student population?
• Does the project address the New York State Learning Standards?
• Does the project address the district graduation goals?
• Does the project promote the district's current educational priorities?
• Does the project use sound educational principles?
• Does the project fit the Foundation's general mission?
• How many students will benefit, in relation to the project's cost?
• Are the project evaluation tools appropriate? Written evaluation, narrative etc.
• Does the applicant have a timetable for evaluation of the project?
• Does the project have plans for a mid-project and final progress report/ evaluation?
• How can the benefits of the project be measured in future years?
• Is the budget reasonable? Can expenses be reduced while still meeting the project goals?
• Is cost-sharing through other funding sources possible?
• Are the required support services available and committed to the project?
• Are funding sources available to continue the project upon its completion?

The Foundation reserves the right to request a personal interview with any applicant for the purpose of clarifying issues that might not be addressed satisfactorily in the written application. Applicants are required to adhere to the application deadlines established by the Foundation.

Limits of the Award

The Foundation has not established any specific limit for a single award. Applicants should request an amount of money suitable for the purposes of the proposed project. All funding requests should be justified explicitly. The Foundation reserves the right to reduce the amount of the award below the requested amount. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation prior to submission of the application to determine if suitable funds are available.

Conditions of the Award

Grants will be awarded in trust to the school district, which will create an individual account to handle the funds. The Applicant cannot use the funds for any purpose substantially different from that expressed in the project application without prior approval of the Foundation, although small deviations from the proposed budget within the overall total grant amount, such as substitution of vendors or changes in prices of goods or services, are allowable at the discretion of the Project Leader. The school district is responsible for submitting a final cost accounting to the Foundation. The Applicant is responsible for carrying out the project for which funds are awarded and for submitting a final project report to the Foundation. For projects funded for over $500, the applicant must also submit a mid-project progress report.

The signatures of the various school officials (Principal, Department Chairpersons) signify their agreement to allow the applicant to carry out the proposed project as outlined in the application. The signatures of the various support service managers similarly signify their agreement to supply the services outlined in the proposal. The school or school district is responsible for ensuring that any activities carried out under the award are conducted in accord with all relevant state laws, regulations and safety requirements.

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The Lakeland Staff Tribute Program

The Lakeland Education Foundation and the Lakeland Federation of Teachers of the Lakeland School System are excited to announce a new initiative as a way to recognize and to thank the dedicated professionals in the Lakeland School System. Parents often want to say a special thank you to the teachers, aides, and specialized instructors who make such a difference in our schools each day. Many parents elect to write heartfelt notes or send gifts around the holidays or at graduation. This year, we would ask that you take a different approach and consider The Lakeland Staff Tribute Program.

• The program allows anyone to make a tax deductible gift to the Lakeland Education Foundation in the name of the person you want to recognize.
• The honoree will receive a card from the Foundation congratulating them for their efforts that make a difference and providing the name of the donor. (You can remain anonymous if you wish).
• Each gift will be acknowledged in writing in a form acceptable for tax purposes
• Your personal donations may qualify for a corporate matching gift if your employer offers such a program.

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Donations

If you would like to help further the educational programs which the Lakeland Education Foundation, Inc. supports through its grants, you may make a donation to the foundation. Click here to access the donation form. Please download and fax to 914-345-1005, or mail to the LEF, PO Box 132, Shrub Oak, NY 10588.

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Dinner Dance

The LEF 2008 Annual Dinner Dance will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at the Colonial Terrace.

14th Annual Golf Classic

The 2008 LEF Golf Classic will be held at Links at Union Vale, Lagrangeville, NY on Monday July 14, 2008. For reservations or information contact: Don Brandes at 914-490-9971, Mike Sitzer or at 914-582-1952.

Check-In 11:00 a.m.
Registration/Lunch 11:30 (catered lunch)
18 Hole Scramble with Shotgun Start 1:00pm
Beverages on the Course
Cocktail Hour & Awards Dinner
Tee Prizes and Trophies
New Car and other Hole-in-One Prizes

Golfers, Sponsors, and Silent Auction Donations Always Welcomed!

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