Submitted photo Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence board members earlier this week accepted a $2,000 donation from Boardman High School Class of 1975. From left are BSFEE Vice President Betsy Slater, BSFEE President Heather Belgin, 1975 class members Deb Liptak and Fred Davis, and board members Michael Walston and Cameron Sobnosky.

BOARDMAN — The Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence (BSFEE), a charitable foundation designed to enrich the lives of students through its Teachers’ Grants Program, received a donation of $2,000 from the Boardman Class of 1975, helping to start the new school year with expanded opportunities for Boardman students.

Class representatives Deb Liptak and Fred Davis delivered the gift earlier this month following their 50th reunion celebration.

The foundation awards teacher grants, supporting projects in the classroom and beyond, provides long-term funding for projects, collaborates with the community to strengthen the Boardman Local School District and promotes volunteerism and giving back to the community.

Giving back and strengthening the community is exactly what BSFEE President Heather Belgin of Boardman had in mind when she joined.

“I became aware of the work of the organization when a friend served on the board. As a parent volunteer, I’ve been amazed over the years at the opportunities the district provides across academics, the arts and athletics. I was excited to be part of a group that has a district-wide impact. I’ve learned about really innovative projects within the schools that I would not have been exposed to otherwise,” Belgin said.

A variety of projects have been carried out through the grants, including purchasing equipment that helped health teachers train and certify students in CPR at the high school and acquiring a shed for telescopes built by industrial arts students through a collaboration between an industrial arts teacher and the physics teacher at the high school.

Belgin said board members will conduct Grant-In-Action visits this fall to explore 2024-25 grant awards like:

•A sensory path in the hallway of West Boulevard Elementary School where students can take a “brain break” when teachers walk them through the building.

•Boardman Glenwood Junior High School’s 3D printing equipment, Canon cameras and physics sensors that give students accurate data during experiments.

•Phonics and reading centers at Stadium Drive Elementary School for independent and small group work.

•Professional Wacom tablets used for digital art, and a mat cutter necessary for displaying artwork at the high school.

The BSFEE also welcomed four new members: Jenefer Basista, Rachel Boyer, Holly Kleeh and Jessica O’Halloran.

•Basista, a veteran English teacher beginning her 30th year with Boardman schools, teaches sophomore English, AP Seminar, and Holocaust Studies, and serves as National Honor Society adviser.

•Boyer is a stay-at-home mom of four daughters. She serves as president of the Stadium Drive Elementary PTA and as secretary for the Boardman PTA Council.

•Kleeh is an active community volunteer and stay-at-home mom with two children. She serves as vice president of the Stadium Drive PTA and is also on the board for the Boardman Council PTA.

•O’Halloran is an intervention specialist and special education coordinator at West Boulevard Elementary. In addition to her teaching role, she works as a mental health counselor and serves as an EMT in the community.

Belgin acknowledged the generous support of the Boardman community and the Boardman Education Association for the BSFEE, allowing it to award approximately $150,000 in grants since the group’s inception in 2009.

To support BSFEE, visit BoardmanSchoolsFund.com.