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Morrow Education Foundation awarded grants to all Morrow County schools this month totaling more than $260,000.
Both the Morrow County and Ione school districts are focusing on upgrading and adding more technology to the schools. Morrow County School District received $242,395, while Ione received $22,604. Foundation board member Ed Rollins said the amount is determined on a per student basis.
Ione will use its funds to start a five-year process of replacing three Promethean Active Panels each year, totaling $12,500 and add 20 Chrome Books with protective covers for incoming freshman for $6,000. Ione Community School principal Henry Ramirez said the remaining funds will be used for the school’s new science club field trip and early learning.
“We’re very fortunate and grateful for the funding,” Ramirez said.
Morrow County School District Superintendent Dirk Dirksen said the district will continue to invest in technology, Eastern Promise opportunities for students, field trips and wraparound services.
“Our goal is to be able to get technology to where students have technology available at a one-to-one level,” Dirksen said.
Out of the $242,395 received, $132,600 will be available as technology grants for which teachers can apply.
“We also want to get the teachers trained on using the technology and when teachers put in for a grant there is a professional development requirement that goes with it. It’s a win-win situation,” he said.
In addition to the technology funds, the district also received $50,000 for Eastern Promise credits. The funding would cover 1,613 credit hours according to the district office. Field trips for all grades are also covered with $13,000 of the funding and the remaining $25,000 will be used for wraparound services including two school resource officers, three community counselors, one nurse, two CARE coordinators, one early childhood CARE coordinator and one family support specialist.
“The district believes that with the continued support of the Morrow Education Foundation, we are able to continue to provide the students of Morrow County School District the best opportunities available,” Dirksen said.
The Morrow Education Foundation has disbursed over $620,000 to the Morrow County School District since 2014 and over $61,000 to the Ione School District over the same time period.
Port of Morrow General Manager Gary Neal said the funds are largely from the Columbia River Enterprise Zone payments made specifically toward improving education in Morrow County.
“We are working toward enhancing communities and supporting livability and education programs in Morrow County,” Neal said.
