Foundation presents $12,000 check to D301
By Denise Moran For The Courier-News May 22, 2012 10:16AM
Updated: July 2, 2012 9:25AM
BURLINGTON — The 301 Central Education Foundation presented a $12,000 check Monday night to the Central Community Unit School District 301 board for improvement of the district’s technology infrastructure.
“This closes the loop for fiber optic cable throughout the district,” said Kelly Greene, a teacher at Prairie Knolls Middle School in Elgin.
Tom Knief, vice chairman of the foundation, presented the check to the board in Richard Perry’s name.
“Rich was a founding member of the foundation board,” Knief said. “Without Rich’s insight, dedication and intellect, the foundation likely would not have come to fruition. Rich touched many lives as a lifelong educator and administrator within the district. Rich continues to leave an impact on both the foundation and the school board. There are very few people who have the ability to create such an impact within a district and its community.”
In addition to the $12,000 check, the foundation also presented District 301 teachers with more than $14,000 in grants this year to fund projects that go beyond the scope of activities funded by the district. The foundation has been awarding grants to the district for the past five years.
In other news, the 2012 District 301 Worldwide Youth in Science & Engineering team was applauded by the school board.
The WYSE team members are Andy Anderson, Omar Awad, Matt Evers, Eric Holmgren, Tyler Hudgens, Nick LeDonne, Ryan Moser, Adam Moxness, Jessica Nowak, Nick Sherman, Travis Stockbridge, Alexandra Tarr, Laura Thompson and Hannah Yoder.
Their coach was Central High School mathematics teacher Andrea Keil.
According to Keil, the team won first place in regional and sectional placements. Anderson, Moser and Tarr went on to win 12th place at the state level. They took third, fourth and sixth place in chemistry.
“This marks the 15th year members of our team went to state,” Keil said.
