2007 Annual Report of the Local Education Fund Committee
The Local Education Fund Committee was established by Town Meeting in 1993 to administer a Fund which was created to supplement and enrich the school curricula. The members of the committee are appointed by the selectmen. The monies in this fund are donated by the residents when they pay their Excise Taxes and Real Estate Taxes. There is a great need for this kind of a fund now in this community. We have to struggle to stay within the guidelines of the mandate as more and of the requests from teachers are for funds to replace programs or for equipment that is not available and for which there is no money in the budget. Our mandate is to fund requests that enhance the curricula and to help provide enrichment for as many students as we are able. The following grants were funded last year: “Me” bags to encourage writing for ESL
Program; a document camera for displaying work so that students can share at RCMS; partial funding of a presentation for the High School students by the New Repertory Theater; Nonfiction titles and reference materials for the High School Library; partial funding of Peaceful Playground Companion Pack for encouraging “safe” physical activities beyond the gym class; Be An Industrial Engineer, a program developed by the Museum of Science connecting technology and engineering to the Science frameworks;two Digital cameras and a video cam-corder for the Middle School for use by the faculty and student body; and a magazine subscription to “Music Alive” to improve reading and comprehension across the curriculum from ELA to music and technology. The total amount granted last year was approximately $4500.
The members of the committee include Vice Chairperson Linda Gautreau, Secretary/Treasurer Ann Wickles, Al Galante, Ellen Griffin, Andrea Ramsey and our newest member this year, Annette Bailey.
The committee continues to hope that community support will increase and that, in the future, we will be able to fund more requests for worthwhile programs and supplemental materials. We hope that when the community sees our cable TV reminders, forms printed on the excise tax bills, and donation cards sent with the real estate tax bill it will make an effort to support the children in Randolph by sending a check to the fund. Any amount large or small will help us to grant more of the requests.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila Campbell, Chairperson
| 
