PTSA to give away $7,000 through minigrants

The PTSA Minigrant Program will give away $7,000 to educational programs initiated by students, staff and other adults in the community. Applications for large-scale and small-scale grants are due on Oct. 27.

Large-scale projects can request up to $500, according to PTSA Co-President Fran Rothstein, and should benefit the whole school, a whole grade or at least 500 students. Elective teachers are also welcome to apply for large-scale funding. "With cutbacks at the county and state level, particularly art, music, sports and clubs are not getting the funding they used to," said Rothstein.

Small-scale projects can receive up to $200 and will benefit a small group of students, such as a school club. Requesting a teacher or adviser's support is recommended, said Rothstein, who encourages any student with a good idea to submit it. "A lot of good ideas simply fall through the cracks because [people] don't have a couple hundred dollars to get it started," she said.

Last year, the Minigrant Program awarded money to the Robotics Club, the Science Journal Club and the SGA among many others.

The Minigrant Committee will review the applications and discuss them during the PTSA meeting on Nov. 16. If all grants approved total less than $7,000, the committee will accept more applications later in the year, wrote Blair parent Cindy Allen.

For more information on applying for minigrants, contact Cindy Allen, Mr. Freeman, senior Kristina Hamilton, or senior Shewit Woldu. Applications are available at the PTSA website.