Troy School District receives $10,500 in grants
Troy School District recently received three grants. The district was awarded a $500 grant from Wal-Mart and a pair of $5,000 grants from the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program.
Troy Superintendent and High School Principal Jacob Francom has filled out several grant applications during his past four years with the Troy School District. Francom was surprised to receive such a large sum as a result of applications sent out this year. Francom said as a requirement, the entity applying for the grants must be a non-profit organization and, if awarded the money, the entity must acknowledge the donor. This is the second time Troy schools have been awarded with a Lowe’s grant. This is their first grant from Wal-Mart.
“They want to make sure that we are using the grant money to make a difference for the students,” Francom said.
Both grants will be received as checks mailed to the school district from the participating donors. Francom said $5,500 will be used for the renovation of W.F. Morrison Elementary playground, while the remaining $5,000 will be used to remodel the Troy High School cafeteria.
The renovation of the elementary playground will cost an estimated $30,000 to complete. Troy Elementary School Principal Diane Rewerts said the current playground has not been updated for 25 years.
“Our goal is to make sure the equipment is safe,” Rewerts said. “We need equipment that will help kids be active and develop their bodies. They need a safe social environment, as well.”
Renovations of the playground include adding a basketball court, new curbing and sidewalk, picnic tables, a flywheel spinner, a gyro twister, a log train and other landscaping projects. The picnic tables and log train will be provided through the donation.
Original plans to complete the playground were estimated at a three-year time frame; however, due to the large amount of grants and community donations, Rewerts anticipates the project will be finished within a year.
Several donations have been made. Major donors include: Center for Asbestos Related Disease Clinic, $1,000; Troy third-grade class, $1,040.28; Kootenai Drug, $500.
Rewerts said other donations have been promised and will be received in the near future. There are several potential future fundraisers pending, including a spaghetti feed, raffles of donated items and selling T-shirts.
“Every little bit counts,” Francom said. “It is good to see the community come together and move forward with this playground project.”
The playground will be dedicated in memory of Troy High School graduate Destiny Tallmadge, who passed away last year from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that disturbs cell growth and causes tumors. Mary Bellamy, Tallmadge’s grandmother, is serving as the treasurer for the playground project.
“I think it is just amazing that they are dedicating it to Destiny,” Bellamy said. “Anyone who knew Destiny knew that she loved children.”
Tallmadge was, as the official Morrison Elementary fundraising letter stated, “A treasured former student who faced challenges in life with drive, ambition and grace.” Her grandmother said she was loved and cherished by the entire community.
The playground will be named Destiny Tallmadge Memorial Playground, and donors’ names will be noted on a plaque that will be installed on the playground.