10/19/2025
Funding update:
Educators in both the Douds and Harmony elementary buildings were given the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $750 for instructional materials for use in their classrooms. Over $30,000 in grants were approved at the October 8th meeting.
Title reading teachers and requested phonics games, STEM activity materials, literacy spelling and other books and utility carts for storage.
Kindergarten and Pre-K teachers selected materials to increase fine motor skills, materials to help students work on self-regulation and some sensory play materials. They also chose items that will help students in group work for math, reading and STEM as well as educational toys and storage units. An outdoor storage box for large building blocks will also be ordered and one instructor chose a classroom rug and library books for her classroom.
First and second grade instructors focused on items for sensory/calming stations, social emotional materials, STEM learning activities, and math and reading games. Books for their classroom libraries, floor seating, Learning with Legos, classroom storage and curriculum activities were also selected.
Third and fourth grade teachers chose STEM curriculum materials and bins, Hands on math tools, floor seats/cushions, math manipulatives and games, Play-Doh, dominos and building cubes, an iPad, wobble stools and a filing cabinet.
The fifth and sixth grade teachers completed mini grant paperwork for learning games, math and science classroom materials and STEM bins and activities. There were also requests for books for classroom libraries, chairs, floor chairs and beanbag sofa and rugs.
Critical thinking games and activities were requested for the ELP program.
Camp Courageous sponsorship was selected by Special Education instructors along with teacher reference books, SEL materials, headphones, an iPad, a rotating book shelf and rolling cart. They also requested reading activities, language arts games.
Art and music and PE instructors requested stencils, pottery supplies, photography equipment, musical instruments and scarves to be used for rhythm exercises as well as sporting equipment. Counselors requested SEL books for guidance activities and counseling activities.
There was discussion during the meeting regarding consumable items the district may pay for or would have covered the cost of in the past.
The Van Buren County CSD educational foundation is now in its 30th year. It began with $2,000 “seed money” from banks within the district. Since then it has grown exponentially, and has distributed more than $300,000 to the district for programs which benefits students.
In 2020, the foundation merged its assets with that of the Bruce Rex Vale Foundation, which greatly expanded the opportunities for Van Buren County students.
The educational foundation has several yearly programs, including lower elementary reading and math donation, scholarships, mini grants and projects to assist departments.
Last year, the foundation donated $35,000 to purchase music equipment
The foundation is governed by a nine member board. The next meeting of the Van Buren Education Foundation is scheduled for April, 2026.
