VENTURA : Teachers to Receive Grants for Materials

A total of $12,000 in “mini-grants” will be awarded to teachers at 16 Ventura schools to help cover the costs of new equipment and supplies for their classrooms.

Twenty-four teachers will receive grants of $500 each to help purchase books, videos, computer software and other classroom aids, said Sylvia McGinnis, executive director of the Ventura Unified School District Foundation. The grants will be presented to teachers during the school board’s meeting Tuesday.

An eight-person committee decided which teachers would receive the grant money based on their performance and the kinds of creative teaching methods they use in the classroom, McGinnis said.

Marlene McCullen, a language instructor at Junipero Serra School, plans to use her grant money to buy additional reading materials for English-deficient students to use at home. Steve Magoon, a Buena High School teacher, wants to purchase a series of math videos to enhance instruction in the classroom.

Since it was formed in 1987, the Ventura school foundation has raised more than $65,000 for its annual mini-grant program, McGinnis said.

The private nonprofit organization solicits donations from individuals as well as large corporations. Among the mini-grant contributors this year were Ventura residents Barbara and Larry Meister, Chevron USA, Pacific Bell, First National Bank and the Southern California Gas Co.

Supt. Joseph Spirito said the financially strapped school district is very appreciative of the contributions. He said teachers often use their own money to buy school supplies.

“This is $500 we could never afford to give to teachers,” he said. “This is what keeps us going.”