GRANT GUIDELINES

WHO CAN APPLY

Students, teachers, administrators, community members and nonprofits for projects that enhance the educational experience of students and teachers of the Webutuck Central School District.

GRANT INFORMATION

The Webutuck Quest for Excellence Fund is an endowed fund whose purpose is to support efforts in the Webutuck Central School District that: create a culture where academics are respected; cultivate an atmosphere of high expectations of achievement; encourage student initiative, creative thinking and innovation; and inspire a love of learning. Quest wants to ensure the highest level of achievement for the students and enhance their capacity to achieve excellence both in school and in the community.

ELIGIBILITY

Grants from the Fund will not replace public dollars for the school district. Quest seeks primarily to help cover the direct costs of projects (not salaries) and provide learning experiences for students rather than the purchase of equipment.

Proposals are accepted from teachers, students, community members or community nonprofits to enhance and enrich educational opportunities for students and teachers of the Webutuck Central School District. Possible projects include, but are not limited to: independent study, new programs; extracurricular activities, individual creative projects in or outside the classroom, visiting speakers, artists-in-residence; professional development for teachers that will directly impact a broader number of individuals, library resources, and class field trips.

Projects must be completed by the end of the school year.

Berkshire Taconic does not support organizations which in their constitution, by-laws, or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief.

AWARDS

Grants awarded will generally range from $500 to $1,000.

REVIEW CRITERIA

Applications will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• Excellence: Is the project or service truly of a high quality and creativity? Is it the right time for the project? Does it involve qualified individuals/groups?
• Impact: What is the potential impact of the project or service on the school community? This does not mean the number of people involved, but rather the quality of the impact?
• Ability: Is the project well thought out and feasible?

Applications will be reviewed by the Quest Advisory Committee comprised of community members, parents, teachers and members of the school community. Their recommendations will be referred to Berkshire Taconic’s board of directors for final approval.

Commitment/Report Requirements
A grant report must be submitted and filled out completely by the date indicated in the grant notification email. If the report is not submitted by the reporting deadline, the committee will not consider future applications.

For questions, please contact Elizabeth Murphy, Library Services, at 845-373-4100.

Applications must be reviewed by Superintendent Ray Castellani prior to submission.