What We Do
As a Foundation, the Madison Education Foundation has the mission of supporting educational opportunities for the students of the Madison School District. How do we do that?
ANNUAL GRANT CYCLE
Beginning each school year after Labor Day, and continuing through the first week in October 31st, the Madison Education Foundation opens up it's annual grant cycle. During this period, teachers apply for individual grants that will support a program they have in their classroom, or for a need that can't be met by the District. Grants must be for items that can be used again, such as books, Chromebooks, digital microscopes, math manipulatives, USB cords, and more. Historically, grants have been awarded for items such as Smart Boards and other modernizing equipment for classrooms that have increased the effectiveness for students in those classrooms.
Once the grant cycle has closed, the applications are distributed to board members and at the March board meeting the applications are discussed and accessed for need and minimum qualifications. We are looking for ways to benefit the most students at one time. Most grants are approved during this meeting. Applications that are denied either have incomplete applications or are applying for projects that don't follow the guidelines and requirements of the process.
Once the grants are either approved or not approved, all applicants are notified via email, and then within two weeks the money is dispersed to the schools to be given to the awardees. Projects funded are planned for the current school year. By awarding funds in November, grants can be used during the rest of the school year.
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
Madison School District is known for it's quality teachers. Teachers who go the extra mile to elevate the student's experience and enhance their education. There are teachers in our District that go even further. These teachers are known by their peers, and are loved by their students, due the the extra ordinary beyond the mark efforts made for their students. Dedication, commitment and devotion shown by these teachers makes them extraordinary in their field. Most of the time they down play their level of achievement, but like any other hero, they have made a difference in student's lives.
At the beginning of January, at the District Inservice meetings, the Madison Education Foundation presents an award for Excellence in Education to two teachers. One in the K - 6 grades, and one in the 7 - 12 grades. This award comes with a $500 cash award for the teacher to use anywhere but in the classroom, and $500 added to their classroom account with the Madison Education Foundation for use in their classroom.
HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
Every spring at Madison High School the annual Awards and Scholarships Banquet is held. As part of this celebration the Madison Education Foundation contributes two $500 scholarships to students who may not have otherwise received them because they weren't involved in sports, or other competitive activities that would bring scholarships into the picture. The winning students are chosen by the Administration of Madison High School and awarded by the Board of the Foundation at the banquet.
MADISON PRESENTS . . .
Every year at Madison High School the music department invites a professional performer or performance group. These have included George Dyer, The Duttons, The Bretts Family and Kurt Bestor. These artists spend two days working with the students in the music department gaining the experience of a lifetime to work with a professional. At the end of the two days the artist is scheduled for a concert in the Madison Performing Arts Center and as part of this performance, the students are all included. Every single time it has been an awesome experience for all involved. George Dyer enjoyed it so much, he came back for an encore performance three years after his first round.
The Madison Education Foundation supports Madison Presents through sponsorship. The sponsorship goes towards bringing the artist in and paying any performance fees. This allows the second goal of Madison Presents, that being to provide a way for students to earn money for Music Department fees through ticket sales. These fees include, but aren't limited to participation fees and tour fees. Madison music groups are very active in giving students the opportunity to tour, and this makes it easier for those students who may need assistance otherwise. None of the funds from the Madison Education Foundation go to support individual students.
KIDSBURG
In 2018 the Rexburg City Parks Department opened The Rexburg Kid’s Discovery Center, which is a hands-on children’s education and discovery center. The center is a place where children can explore, create, discover and learn through play.
Kidsburg believes every child deserves rich and diverse experiences with a commitment to ensuring accessibility for everyone. The Board of the Madison Education Foundation decided that by supporting Kidsburg directly through sponsorship, we will both enhance the educational opportunities in the community, but also give the Madison Education Foundation more exposure in the community. How have we supported Kidsburg?
An initial donation of books for a reading center at Kidsburg was made. This gives kids another place to sit down and read quality books in an educational environment. We have also donated funds for field trips to Kidsburg that will allow students to come and not have to worry about admission fees. In the future, the Madison Education Foundation plans to team up with Kidsburg to create an interactive STEM wall with an ever expanding opportunity for hands-on experiences with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This will give students exposure to and increase interest in these fields.