Grant gives greenhouse room to grow

Casey Middle School staff members, from left, Dana Kilmer, Eileen Holyoke and Jerry Moote, look around the greenhouse they hope to refurbish and use for lessons. Their efforts were given a boost with a $500 mini-grant from the Williamsville Education Foundation Inc. One of nine mini-grants from the Williamsville Education Foundation Inc. was awarded to Casey Middle School in the amount of $500 to support the refurbishment of the school's greenhouse.

Jerry Moote, a social worker at Casey, said he had watched the greenhouse sit empty for the past 10 years and decided it was time to revive it.

"The last few years we have talked about doing something with the greenhouse," he said. "This grant will be used as the first step: startup money."

Moote said several teachers have expressed interest in using the greenhouse for lessons, from science to home and careers, and to possibly grow flowers that could be sold as a fundraiser.

The greenhouse is attached to the old Casey Middle School, which is now the district offices. Moote said the grant will be used to build shelves and other maintenance updates.

"The school is excited about it. We would like to have as many people, staff and students, to be participating in it," he said.

Moote, who gardens as a hobby, said there are lots of different ways the school will be able to use the greenhouse.

Once the maintenance work is completed, the staff will begin bringing the greenhouse to working order. Moote said that North High School has an operating greenhouse, and he plans to use that staff's expertise to understand the dynamics, such as the level of humidity.

Casey's special education teachers, Eileen Holyoke and Dana Kilmer, have also been involved.

"We can't express our appreciation enough," Moote said about receiving the grant.

The foundation chose nine programs from the 25 applicants. In addition to Casey's greenhouse, other district programs receiving grants are:

• Casey Middle School, $500 to purchase a sewing machine designed to accommodate special needs students. Requested by Ronna Glickman and Barbara Sanchez, home and careers teachers.

• Heim Middle School, $511 to purchase science data collection probe. Requested by Sue Merlino, science teacher.

• Mill Middle School, $459 to purchase Prime Time Math software program. Requested by Keri Procopio, math teacher.

• Dodge Elementary, $120 to purchase two stereo microphones for iPods. Requested by Thomas Knab, art teacher.

• Maple West Elementary, $500 to purchase Scientific Inquiry Learning Project equipment. Requested by Jonathan Priset, teacher.

• Transit Middle School: $500 to purchase audiovisual equipment for the technology department. Requested by Mark Arnold, technology teacher.

• East High School: $500 for Career Center electronic media center materials. Requested by Michelle Greenway, guidance counselor.

• South High School: $400 for student newspaper redesign and startup edition. Requested by Michelle Holden, English teacher.

The total of the grants was $3,990. This is the seventh year of the mini-grant program, which helps fund worthwhile program items that might otherwise not be feasible due to budget constraints.

"The school's budget can't buy everything for everybody," Foundation President Trey Measer said. "This is where the foundation comes in, to buy extra tools to help educate our kids and support the efforts of teachers. Our Wall of Fame program was so successful this year, we were able to award more our mini-grants."

Since the program began in 2001, the foundation has provided 28 mini-grants totaling $12,000.

For information, visit www. wedf. org.