Board OKs school grants

All three applications for recycling education grants have been approved, and Jay County Solid Waste Management District is hoping more will come in before the Sunday deadline.
The district board during its meeting Monday gave the thumbs up to grant applications totaling $1,600 for projects at Westlawn and Redkey elementary schools.
The board also discussed its progress on setting up advertising for recycling and other programs.
The largest of the three grants the board approved Monday was $1,000 for the creation of an outdoor classroom/learning garden at Westlawn Elementary in Dunkirk. It will include a pavilion with benches made of recycled plastic, raised garden beds, a music/art wall made out of recycled materials, a butterfly garden and a wildlife area utilizing a small pond on the property.
District educator Bettie Jacobs, who proposed offering the grants and reviewed the applications, noted that Westlawn teacher Nicci Littler and others pursuing the project have already secured a $1,000 grant from Wal-Mart and raised other funds for the project.
The other two applications for $300 each, submitted by school librarian Cathy Fugiett, are for the creation of a “Makerspace” — an area of “self-directed learning” focusing on creativity and problem solving — at both Redkey and Westlawn elementary schools. It would be created using recycled materials as a self-sustainability project.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said board member Randy Geesaman, giving his support for all three projects.
Jacobs expressed disappointment that she only received three applications for the grants to support recycling education programs, but said she is hopeful that more will come in. The district designated $10,000 for the grants this year, and the deadline to apply is Sunday.
“This is the first time around, and you’ll get word of mouth out there from the people that you have,” said Carter Leonard, a member of the district’s citizen’s advisory committee. “It will expand.”
Board members also discussed their various efforts to promote recycling and other activities.
Mailings about curbside recycling in Portland are set to go out this week, and an ad has also been placed in Great Deals. The board also approved purchasing a package for regular advertising in The Commercial Review, and signs for upcoming events will be placed at the district office.
Advertising and promotion have been a major topic of discussion for board members over the last few months in an effort to increase awareness about upcoming events and participation in recycling programs.
The district will hold a rain barrel workshop at 6 p.m. April 14 at the district office, 5948 W. Indiana 67. A free shredding day is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon May 21, also at the district office, at the same time as the free dump day at Jay County Landfill.
In other business, board members Jeanne Houchins, Doug Inman, Faron Parr, Geesaman, Bill Gibson and Geesaman, absent Jim Zimmerman and Gene Ritter:
•Discussed again the possibility of having Ritter appoint a proxy to attend the district’s monthly meetings. Ritter has missed his first two meetings since being elected mayor, and the rest of the group agreed Dunkirk needs to be represented. Director Ronyelle Edwards said she sent a letter to Ritter about the possibility of naming a proxy for the meetings, but has not received a response.
•Got an update on Jacobs’ upcoming schedule, which includes visits to East, Westlawn and Pennville elementary schools and Jay County Christian Academy in March as well as displays at Fiber Fest on March 11 and 12 and during Ag Week events March 14 through 18.
•Learned from Edwards that volunteers staffing the Saturday recycling trailer in Dunkirk have complained that residents are leaving items at times other than the designated hours. Edwards has already arranged for the trailer to be removed from its site near West Jay Community Center during off hours, and Jacobs is preparing signs to place at each site. The Dunkirk trailer is regularly open from 9 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
•Heard from Edwards that the district brought in $17,133 in tipping fees last month for 9,889 tons at Jay County Landfill. It paid claims totaling $20,520.63. That left its total cash balance at $479,389.86.