Scholarship & Education Committee

Scholarship & Education Committee Meeting Minutes - Draft Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 6:30 P.M., City Hall Annex, 98 Washington Street Called to Order: 6:34 p.m. Members Present: Tyler Carlton, Elizabeth McGovern, Amy Stewart, Jennifer McAlpine, Tayla Rose Staff Present: Dominick Pangallo 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of minutes The committee unanimously approved the minutes of January 28, 2020. 3. Financial update The Scholarship Fund received $283.26 in January and has a balance of $2,983.11. The Education Fund received $159.37 in January and has a balance of $16,291.18. Dominick distributed the four-year trends for October, November, December, and January. 4. Old business a. Fundraising updates Tyler has been in communication with Notch and Salem Main Streets about potentially participating in their events in order to raise funds, possibly with a dunk tank. Grant applications are being prepared for some local bank funds, as well. The local Realtors organization does not provide funding, but can help with volunteers if the committee needs them. Tyler will also prepare a letter to the editor for the Salem News in order to help boost the committee’s profile further. b. Education Fund grant application review The committee reviewed an application from Samantha Claveau, a math teacher at Saltonstall School, requesting a grant in the amount of $1,050 to fund a one-year subscription to an online math program. The committee observed that there was also a new application from another math teacher at Saltonstall and last month they had approved a grant for a third math teacher request at the same school. The committee voted to table the application review until next month’s meeting in order to compare the two pending applications and hold a larger discussion about having more diversity in the nature of grant awards issued. Committee members expressed an interest in identifying funding needs from non-school education organizations in the community, such as the Book Buddies program, since most applications have been from teachers to this point, who also have access to the Salem Education Foundation grants, where others may not. A motion was made to table the application to the March meeting and it was so voted unanimously. c. Status of special act relative to the Education Fund Tyler met with the Chair of the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading and got it reported out. The legislation passed the State House of Representatives on February 18th and is now before the State Senate. 5. New business SSU’s Next Leaders’ program invited committee members to a March 2nd workshop with the students so the committee could see the work that the Education Fund grant made possible. Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 24th, 6:30 p.m., City Hall Annex Adjourned: 7:09 p.m.