BEF Presents BOE with $83,000 for classroom grants and Bengal Pride in Educational Excellence Campaign

Terry Mullane, Chairman of the Bloomfield Educational Foundation and fellow Board members, presented a check to the Bloomfield Board of Education this evening, for $83,150 to support innovative learning and teaching in the school system.

“We are so pleased to support the Bloomfield School System and to be able to enhance the educational experience for all students,” stated Mullane.

Included in this gift are payments for four Joseph Kliminski Teacher Grants, four Extraordinary Grants, and the third of five $50,000 pledges to BHS to support the Bengal Pride in Educational Excellence Campaign.

Joseph Kliminski Teacher Grants fund projects costing $500 or less and support innovative learning in the classroom. As examples, these projects funded Smart VE Response units in the Middle School math classrooms; Montclair Art Museum Outreach visits to ELL classes; pocket microscopes for the high school biology classes; and Ceramic Raku workshops for the advanced sculpture classes at the high school.

Extraordinary Grants are awarded for inventive and resourceful learning projects that cost $500 or more. Some of the programs funded in this round included: The BHS Football Tutoring Program, , a V.E.S.T. Summer CBI Experience; Mobile Hot Spot units for qualified students at the middle school to gain internet access at home for educational purposes; and Chromebooks for all V.E.S.T. students.

In September, 2014, the BEF pledged $250,000 to BHS and launched The Bengal Pride in Educational Campaign. Due to this gift, BHS is offering the Kaplan SAT Preparation Course to every student taking the SAT test, paying for all AP students’ tests and has sent BHS teachers to the AP Institute for additional training. BHS Principal, Chris Jennings has reported an appreciable rise in the number of AP tests taken, an average rise in SAT scores of 125 points and better and reports his teachers are excited to attend the AP Institute to learn the about latest techniques and teaching tools to provide an excellent AP class experience for their students. Students who receive a 3 or better on the AP test will qualify for college credit.

“Chris Jennings has called this three-pronged approach a ‘game changer’ and an ‘equalizer’ for his students. We are helping to remove the financial barriers so every student can succeed and that gives us great pleasure,” stated Madeline Wollner, BEF Vice-Chairwoman.

About the BEF
The Bloomfield Educational Foundation was founded in 1999 and is a 501-c-3 organization dedicated to enhancing the educational experiences for all students of the Bloomfield School System and to helping BHS alumni re-connect through events such as the Fall Tailgate Party, Winter Alumni Basketball game and Spring Gala. For more information about the BEF, visit our website: www.bloomfieldeducationalfoundation.org