Foundation awards $48,000 worth of grants in District 25

From new flexible classroom furniture to mini-robots that help with problem solving skills, Arlington Heights Elementary District 25's ABC/25 Foundation is giving out more than $48,000 for projects aimed at increasing student learning.

Since 1991, the foundation has contributed more than $1 million to various projects that otherwise wouldn't be supported with district funds.

This year, 57 grants were awarded out of the 84 applications received from teachers across the district, officials said.

Ceremonies are planned at each school starting next week to formally recognize the teachers whose grant applications were approved by a committee of parents.

"We want these teachers to be proud of their accomplishments. We're proud of them," said Megan Puzen, the foundation's parent liaison for Olive-Mary Stitt school. "We're excited about what they're bringing our kids."

Most of the grants were less than $1,500 each, to pay for items such as Bee-Bot robots, which beep, blink and move to help teach children sequencing and estimation. Nine grants of more than $1,500 each will help pay for items such as movable classroom seating, useful for brainstorming sessions and group projects.

The foundation raises money through membership fees, a candle sale and annual Just Move It! Challenge, a 5K run/walk scheduled for April 22 this year.