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An Editorial Opinion of The Demopolis Times

Public school foundations are an important part of a school system. They are vital in getting teachers and students the resources they need, especially in rural areas.

What is a school foundation exactly? A school foundation is a non-profit organization that raises money to provide additional supplies and opportunities within their district. In addition to funding, school foundations support their district by raising awareness about the district through community involvement, events, and networking. They also raise support for the district through community and advocacy activities.

The Demopolis City Schools Foundation is a valuable resource to the school district as they always fight to provide the very best for Demopolis students. Recently, Executive Director Margaret Anne Gilchrist announced the fall grants for Demopolis City Schools, with each school receiving funding for supplies, equipment, or reading materials.

Grants for the fall semester totaled at $46,293.79. That is a huge accomplishment worthy of applause. Gilchrist has only been in the role of director for a little over a year, but already she and her board members have helped so many Demopolis students succeed in the classroom.

Fall grants included, but are not limited to $13,096 awarded to Kristi Stokes for students to explore the world through virtual reality at Westside Elementary, $1,000 awarded to Julie Harrison for phonemic awareness intervention lessons at U.S. Jones Elementary, $3,593.50 awarded to Jesse Bell for equipment for a lacrosse teaching unit at Demopolis Middle School, and $7,177.19 awarded to Brandi Dannelly to jump start a student-led retail store at Demopolis High School.

We applaud Gilchrist and her board for their continuous work in providing Demopolis students with the best resources for success. Spring grants are still ahead, and we are eager to see what comes next for the Demopolis school district.