Rotary seeks project to double new school funds

The Rotary Club is seeking a project from the school district so it can go after a grant to double its fund for the new K-12 school.

Rotarians Jim Keene, Roy Hamilton and Bob Valen appeared before the school board Monday night and told directors that the club had an opportunity to get a grant equaling its $15,000 school building fund but needed a project in order to do so.

Keene said he was grateful for all the small donations during the club’s school fund projects and it was in a position to leverage its money to twice that amount.

Rotarians said they wanted a project that would grip the club’s district grantors.

The board named its two principals as the “go to” people to develop ideas for the project.

Principals Brad Wilson and Lisa Lakin said they would discuss the offer with their respective staffs and develop a list that the board and Rotary Club could work from.

Hamilton said that the club must get its grant application in before March 1, and if it won the Rotary District grant, money would be available in July. He added that the club would have two years to exercise the fund.

Ideas that percolated during the evening included playground equipment and bleachers for the gym.

The project would be for something not covered by state funding.

Rotarians have been raising money for the new school since it was announced that the project had been funded by the state.