Local farmers help DCPS get $25,000 grant | Community Spirit

The Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools has received a $25,000 grant thanks to local farmers who submitted the school as the benefactor in a contest sponsored by Monsanto.

The check is coming from the “America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education” program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund.  

The presentation  is scheduled to take place between the girls’ and boys’ basketball games between Apollo High School and host Daviess County High School, at approximately 7:15 p.m. tonight in the DCHS gym. The Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools will host representatives from the Monsanto Fund, whose mission includes a commitment “to strengthening both farming communities and the communities where we live and work.”

In order to apply for the grant, DCPS had to be nominated by at least one farmer residing in the school district. More than 90 nominations were submitted by Daviess County farmers supporting the grant, which will be used to purchase “My Math Lab” software and graphing calculators for the math departments at both Apollo and DCHS.

“Daviess County has a strong farming community that we knew would be supportive of our effort,” said Joy Wenberg, speaking on behalf of the Foundation for DCPS. “We were excited about the prospect of additional funding for our high school math departments. This program seeks to enable all students to successfully meet graduation requirements and at the same time, acquire the skills and knowledge they need for higher education with emphasis on math.”

“My Math Lab” software provides students with personalized study plans, homework, quizzes and tests with immediate feedback and an organizer for help with note-taking and practice, according to Jana Bryant, DCPS mathematics staff developer. 

Wenberg, along with Bryant and retired DCPS math teacher Joe Blandford, submitted the grant proposal in April. They estimate approximately 3,000 students will benefit from the Monsanto grant, both while attending DCPS high schools and when they continue their educational careers at the post-secondary level, as well as in their careers.

“All students would benefit from developing study habits that research shows are tied to improved academic performance and greater college readiness, such as a willingness to put effort and discipline into present work in order to achieve long-term success and the ability to study independently, sustain concentration on a task, use evidence to defend a point of view, and self-correct in response to feedback,” Bryant noted on the application.

Nominating farmers have been invited to attend the presentation and a reception in the DCHS media center. In addition, Apollo and Daviess County high school students will display examples of their work in the fields of mathematics and related academies in the DCHS lobby.

Farmers interested in participating in the 2013 Monsanto grant cycle to benefit DCPS students should contact Vicki Quisenberry, executive director of the Foundation for DCPS, at vickiq@foundationfordcps.org or (270) 231-5583 or Jana Bryant at jana.bryant@daviess.kyschools.us or (270) 852-7000.