Ppening doors in the classroom

Tracy Area High School and Tracy Area Elementary School educators were more than happy to receive $8,000 in financial support from the Tracy Area Education Foundation and Minnwest Bank as part of the Innovative Incentive Grant Program. Teachers will use the funds to improve and expand curriculum in their classrooms. Teacher Jean DeSmith, Mary Squires of Minnwest Bank, teacher Jason Kainz, Eric Fultz of the Foundation, and teachers Heather Kamrud-Rice and Dan Zimansky.

Minnwest Bank have opened their checkbooks to open some doors inside classrooms at Tracy Area Public Schools, starting this school year.

Both have donated $4,000 toward the Innovative Incentive Grant Program, which is designed to bring new concepts and learning tools to classes in both the high school and elementary school. “A few of the people on the board wanted to help certain areas of learning,” Eric Fultz, president of the TAEF. “We wanted to give the teacher the opportunity, if they have a dream, they can maybe pursue it with a little extra money.”

“We firmly believe in giving back to the community, and anytime you can help the kids — we’re investing in our future,” said Mary Squires of the Tracy branch of Minnwest Bank. “It will be fun to see what ideas they come up with. It might inspire someone to do the next best thing.”

Two educators from each of the Tracy Area Public Schools wrote grants for their respective classes or groups; the monies are a 50-50 split between the schools.