Greater Latrobe foundation awards $106K for educational equipment, programs

A sensory wall for special needs students, elementary cultural assemblies and updated computers are among equipment and programs at Latrobe schools that are receiving a collective $106,000 boost through grants from the Greater Latrobe Partners in Education Foundation.

The school board this week accepted foundation (GLPIEF) funding for the current school year — including $20,000 designated for the special education department, obtained through a gift from the local McFeely-Rogers Foundation and proceeds from the GOAL Magazine golf outing.

Some of that money will provide equipment for autistic, emotional support and life skills classrooms, including sensory play walls for the district’s elementary schools.

“This is a piece of equipment that students can interact with, and it can be stimulating or soothing, based on the particular student,” Jessica Golden, the school district’s director of development, said of the play walls. “All of our elementary schools have a sensory room. These are dedicated spaces for any student who has sensory needs.”

With additional support from the McFeely-Rogers Foundation, GLPIEF will provide $21,500 for cultural enrichment programming in grades K-12.

That funding helps cover the cost of elementary assemblies, including stage performances by the Pittsburgh CLO. This year’s CLO presentation will portray the theme “Pioneers of Flight,” Golden said.

Additional GLPIEF grants will fund:

• Professional development and curriculum implementation, $32,000;

• Classroom grants for various teacher projects, funded through the Celebrate Innovation program and the Dr. and Mrs. William D. Stavisky Fund, $13,000;

• “Human Body Systems” course start-up costs, $10,000;

• Updated computers in the senior high video and broadcast, journalism and photography classrooms, $9,500.

GLPIEF also administers $25,000 in scholarships awarded to graduating seniors. It also grants more than $5,000 in scholarships to help senior high students who are in need participate in college-level courses through the school district’s dual enrollment agreements with area continuing education institutions.

The foundation’s Wildcats Emergency Fund helps students in need obtain clothing, food and school supplies or cover field trip costs.

A new initiative, The DOT Project, makes take-home hygiene kits available to boys and girls at the school nurse’s office.

Since its inception in 2012, GLPIEF has secured more than $3.8 million in philanthropic support for the school district, according to foundation President Julie Jones.

Donations from Greater Latrobe staff, parents, alumni and community members are an important source of the funds the foundation uses to enhance the education of district students. “Over 70% of our teachers make a personal donation every year to this fund,” Jones said.

For information on contributing to the GLPIEF 2019-20 annual fund, titled “Framing Our Future,” visit glpief.org/programs/annual-fund or call Golden at 724-539-4220, ext. 7.