2023 Spring Grants Awarded

2023 Spring Grants Awarded

At David Douglas School District, Spring brings flowers and David Douglas Educational Foundation Spring Grants!

Each spring, school district employees are invited to submit requests for DDEF-funded Spring Grants for the following school year.  A Grant Committee reviews the requests and makes funding recommendations to the Foundation evaluating whether the requests are appropriate for the DDEF Spring Grant program or should be funded through other sources such as the regular school district budget, Multnomah Education Service District, or DDEF Special Grants.

This year’s Spring Grant awards were finalized at the April 2023 DDEF Board Meeting awarding approximately $6,000 in grants to teacher and district staff requests.

See below for pictures and a description of the approved grants.

Grants awarded for the 2022-23 school year include: 

A common theme in several of this year’s grants was flexible seating options for students and a variety of supplies to create or enhance calming spaces for students to help regulate their emotions.  Awards included:

  • Ventura Park (grades K-5): Two grants to provide alternative seating, timers for calm corner spaces so students return to their regular classroom space at the proper time; and fidget supplies to help student regulate their behavior in the classroom;

  • Alice Ott (grades 6-8): A grant to provide two small sofas, an end table and a few faux plants in order to create a calm, comfortable reading area in the Alice Ott library.

In addition, grants supported other classroom and activity needs including:

  • Ron Russell Middle SchoolL The orchestra/music program was awarded two music stands to support 45 stands that were not on racks. In addition, the school’s lunch and after-school Unified clubs program received an award to purchase gaming chairs, bean bags and a TV for the next school year. Unified programs look to unite students with and without disabilities through sport and play.

  • David Douglas High School: A grant was awarded to purchase a brand new Scotty the Scotsman mascot costume to replace the 30-year old mascot which is no longer usable.

  • West Powellhurst (K-5): Finally, a grant to purchase an iPad, iPad related items (applecare coverage, smart folio, apple pencil, USB-C apple pencil adapter), and an app to support articulation practice with students was awarded. This equipment will serve K-5 students who are eligible for special education. and will help them learn skills that are relevant to pronounce and practice consonant sounds in the English language.

DDEF is happy to again support the Spring Grant program, thanks to generous donors like you!

Jo Carney