Each year, the Naperville Education Foundation (NEF) provides a $1,000 School Appreciation Grant to all 22 Naperville Community Unit School District 203 schools and Connections transition program.
The grant is used at each principal’s discretion to meet the unique needs of every building that may fall outside of the school’s budget.
The School Appreciation Grant program began as the Annual Trustee Award in 1998. Originally, schools received $500 in discretionary funds. Today, NEF provides $23,000 across all buildings.
NEF Trustees visit each school building to present their staff with the award at the beginning of the year.
At River Woods Elementary School, Principal Gina Baumgartner used the grant to purchase a portable keyboard for their music teacher.
“She uses this keyboard in the music room, for concerts, and with our choir in the library,” Baumgartner shared. “It has opened up musical opportunities across our school.”
The School Appreciation Grant program began as the Annual Trustee Award program in 1998. Back then, schools received $500 in discretionary funds.
Today principals used their School Appreciation Grant to provide for a range of needs.
“We love our NEF grants for they give us the opportunity to grow and reach our learners in new ways,” Baumgartner said.
