SIMI VALLEY : Teachers Win Grants for Creative Projects

Teachers in the Simi Valley Unified School District were awarded nearly $30,000 worth of grants this week to pay for a variety of creative projects at elementary, junior high and high schools.

This is the second year the district has sponsored the Instructional Incentive grants, which are designed to encourage innovative academic programs and collaborative teaching.

“I think this is one of the finest things we’ve been able to do with tight budgets,” Assistant Supt. Susan C. Parks said.

Long-term projects received grants as high as $2,000. For example, a Park View Elementary School project for developing a special course of study on ancient civilizations received $1,500.

Smaller grants were handed out for one-time events such as a planned medieval banquet at Sinaloa Junior High School, which got $350.

“I’m very impressed with the enthusiasm and the ideas,” said board member Debbie Sandland. “It’s very exciting.”

Altogether, the school board approved funding for 29 grant applications for the 1994-95 school year submitted by individual instructors and several teams of teachers. A total of 55 applications were submitted, representing more than 200 teachers.