Ten gifts/grants ranging from $25 to $10,000 were accepted at Monday’s Great Bend USD 428 school board meeting.
The $10,000 gift comes from the Panther Booster Club and is made to the Athletic Department to be used for painting/graphics in the weight room, a tennis ball machine, portable batting cage “and other approved expenditures when needed.”
The $25 contribution to Jefferson Elementary School was made by Dana Foss following the students’ vocal performance last month at the Heartland Cancer Center.
The vote to accept the list of gifts was 6-1, with board member Kevin Mauler voting no. After the meeting, he was asked by the Great Bend Tribune if any gift in particular had prompted his vote. His answer: “The anonymous one.”
An anonymous donor provided $260 for a therapy dog or therapy animal project. Board members were told that Special Services confirms the appropriateness of this gift.
Other gifts approved were:
• $100 from Terry and Sandy Gregg, parents of a Great Bend Middle School student, to GBMS’s ID Special Education classroom (teacher Terri Rous).
• The Golden Belt Community Foundation released $3,429.76 from the Barton County Pool Grant Fund to allow the purchase of swim racing lane line markers.
• The GBCF also provided a $300 grant to fund half of this year’s police officer lunch program. Superintendent Brad Reed said last semester the district began treating a police officer to lunch with a student each day, with different officers, schools and students each day. The foundation supports this positive program with local law enforcement and agreed to pay for the second half of this year’s program.
• The St. Paul Lutheran Women donated $75 to Eisenhower’s IRC classroom.
• Following the musical group’s performance, the Great Bend Rotary donated $100 to GBMS’s Music in Motion.
• The USD 428 Education Foundation released $550 to fund Kansas Day speakers at Riley Elementary School. “Calamity Jane” and “Amelia Earhart” will be at the school on Jan. 29.
• Jefferson Elementary School was awarded at $775 Healthy Habits for Life Grant through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. It will enable activities which encourage students to lead healthier lives.
A grant application request was also approved. Barton County Special Services wishes to apply for a $2,500 Walmart grant.  If awarded, the money will be spent on sensory items for autistic students.