Perkins Elementary Receives Grant

By CHARLES VADEN

Moapa Valley Progress

Karen Layne, president and board member from the Edna Rose Crane Educational Foundation, presented a check to the Ute Perkins Elementary School on Friday morning, March 1, in the sum of $30,000.

In attendance at the presentation were Kurt Arnold, Program Coordinator, Community Outreach School-Community Partnership Program representing the Clark County School District along with Perkins Vice Principal Kelby Robison and school librarian Brook Williams.

Foundation Board members visited eight Clark County School District (CCSD) elementary schools to present them grant checks. The grants totalled almost $250,000 district-wide.

The grants will be used to purchase literacy curriculum, learning tools, technology for classrooms, digital library and reading books.

Williams, along with Robison, explained how important it was to create the sense of awe and wonderment in children and then teach them how to seek and find adventure in the written word.

A total of 43 Title I, Tier III elementary school principals in Clark County were eligible to submit a written proposal to highlight programs or resources needed to improve academics for students in first, second or third grades. Foundation board members reviewed each proposal, the projected costs (between $25,000 to $40,000) and an explanation of how the grant would impact students’ academic achievement.

The vision behind this grant found its home in the dedication and commitment of Ute Perkins staff to bring to their students and community an opportunity to have the best quality education to those in their care.

Edna Rose Crane was a successful business woman who began contributing technology equipment to several CCSD elementary schools. After her death in 2000, the foundation continued granting financial awards to promote the use of technology in education and to give teachers the skills necessary to infuse technology into their lessons. Crane believed that given the opportunity, all students could become successful life-long learners. Crane’s generosity was formally recognized and she was inducted into the 1997-1998 CCSD Excellence in Education Hall of Fame.

The goal of the Edna Rose Crane Educational Foundation is to support an educational environment which provides students an opportunity to achieve their dreams by maximizing their educational experience, inspiring them to reach their potentials, believing in themselves and the abilities to persevere, while creating a desire to become lifelong learners and successful citizens.