School District 43 is once again supporting a program that provides $1,000 grants to teachers for innovative projects despite concerns raised by the BC Teachers' Federation and the Coquitlam Teachers' Association because the money comes form the petroleum giant Chevron.
Last year, 65 teachers at 27 Tri-City schools received grants totalling $100,000 in the Fuel Your School program, which was promoted by school principals as a way of getting new equipment into cash-strapped schools.
Among the projects approved was a creative writing class using Lego, a musical mathematics program and a math game that needed special equipment.
"There's lots of room for experimentation and hands-on learning," assistant superintendent Reno Ciolfi told the board of education at its meeting Tuesday. He said boys in particular prefer school work that involves equipment.
The program rolled out in SD43 last fall after it was turned down by the Vancouver School Board and criticism from the CTA and the BCTF. After a slow start, there were more applications than there was money to hand out.
Ciolfi said through the crowdfunding platform that highlights the projects, www.myclassneeds.ca, people could donate further to the projects, boosting the project funds.
NEW TO CROWD-FUNDING
"That might open the doors to other people crowd-sourcing," he said.
Still, he admitted that the district is new to crowd-funding.
As for whether the program gives Chevron special treatment, Ciolfi said the district isn't asked to promote the purchase of gas, even though that's how funds are collected to pay for the grants $1 per 30 litres of gas bought at Chevron stations in Coquitlam.
He admitted that the school district walks a fine line in recommending teachers apply for the grants and "made a careful effort to be low key," because "it riles some people."
The equipment purchased doesn't advertise Chevron and is engaging to students, with over 4,000 benefitting from the project aid, he said.
Board chair Judy Shirra said the program is worth supporting. As long as the "integrity of staff" is maintained, the Port Coquitlam trustee said, teachers should "jump on this and run with it."
