Springfield Rotary Clubs provided over $10,000 for white board kits to Springfield District 186 for all the students at four elementary schools as part of a joint literacy project funded through District 6460 Grants. The presidents and other representatives of the five Rotary Clubs of Springfield presented the checks to Springfield District 186 at a virtual press conference on October 14. Four Springfield District 186 elementary schools (Iles, Lindsay, Marsh and Sandburg) will be receiving brand new white boards, dry erase markers and erasers for each of their students, thanks to generous support from the joint project of the five Rotary Clubs. Rotary volunteers will be packaging the items in individual bags for ease of distribution to each student.
The white board kits will aid in both remote, hybrid and classroom learning through the Rotary project. Students will be able to use the boards to practice math and writing, and other skills at home or in the classroom and hold the boards up for the teachers to see the results. Students will be able to erase the boards and reuse them for a variety of exercises each school day and throughout the school year.
The project was spearheaded by our own Vicki Megginson working with representatives from each club and Debbie Thomas from District 186. The Rotary Clubs submitted grant proposals for this joint literacy project to Rotary District 6460, and District Grants to support the project were awarded to each club in September.
Vicki served as the master of ceremonies for the virtual press conference, and Debbie Thomas described the project. District 6460 Governor Maura Donnelly and District Foundation Chair and Past District Governor Brian Barstead spoke briefly about Rotary and the District Grant Program. Rotary Club Presidents presented the checks and spoke about the project. Springfield District 186 Superintendent Jennifer Gill and Principals from the four schools spoke about the importance of the project for the students and thanked Rotary for their support during tough times.