PEF Awards $200K in Grants

Fourteen Petaluma schools have received $158,000, funds that will be used to purchase cameras, smart interactive boards, laptops and other technology, courtesy of the Petaluma Educational Foundation.

The foundation also awarded 29 enrichment grants totaling more than $41,000, making the overall 2012 award one of the biggest annual donations to local schools PEF has made during its 30 years in the community. 

Over the past year PEF has launched a new initiative, called Transforming Education in the Classroom that focuses on giving teachers and students new tools.

"It’s impossible to learn everything that kids need to know because information is always evolving and will likely change by the time they graduate," said Janet Ramatici, executive director of PEF. "Students have to be taught how to access the information and how to critically analyze it to make sure it's valid and technology is a big part of that."

Recipients of the 2012 Major Impact Grants include:

• Kenilworth Junior High School, which has purchased laptops for its English Language Arts classes.
• Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley, which will use the money to buy laptops and media carts.
• Petaluma High School, which has purchased 20 digital cameras for their Fine Art Photography class
• McDowell Elementary, which received $10,000 for Dell desktop workstations and SMART Interactive Boards
• Corona Creek and Meadow Schools, which received $12,500 for laptops, projectors and document cameras.
• McKinley Elementary School, which will use their $15,000 grant to purchase 25 Apple iPads and related equipment Equipment for its 4th through 6th grade language arts classes.
• Petaluma High School’s RSP department, which will use the $6,000 from PEF to launch a new software program that aims to identify gaps in students’ math and literacy skill and focuses lesson plans accordingly.

Petaluma Educational Foundation relies on private and corporate donations to award its grants. Clover Stornetta and Petaluma Market each donated $30,000 toward this year's prizes. PEF also runs the  thrift store on Western Avenue, proceeds from which are used for grants.

Congratulations to all of the 2012 grant recipients!