Funded Projects
Teachers have the opportunity to apply for funding from the Marion Foundation during fall and spring grant cycles every school year. There is no minimum or maximum amount that can be requested. A Grant Committee consisting of current and former district staff, parents, alumni and other community leaders reviews each funding request. These projects were awarded funding in 2022.
the joy of reading
Rebecca VonBehren & Terri Schmidt – Starry Elementary
Renee Meth- Francis Marion Intermediate
Kim DeWulf & Marcy Shie – Longfellow Elementary
Providing a free book once a month to every kindergarten- 4th grade student. Students keep the books to grow their libraries at home.
AMPED: Algebra in Manufacturing, process, engineering and design
Roxanne Paulson & Pete Messerli – Marion High School
Funds for the purchase of a new commercial level heat press and engraver for new high school curriculum combining math, business and industrial tech.
Mini DBQ Project
Jenny Long & Lauren Eastburn – Vernon Middle School
New DBQ binder supplements middle school social studies curriculum.
Preschool group time carpets
Jenni Ringwald, Natalie Kocour, Ann Wilson, Jessica Bagg and Amanda Heim
Purchased a new rug and carpet spots for each of the five preschool classrooms.
baritone saxophone
Jennifer Adams & Michelle Waymire – Vernon Middle School
Enhanced the middle school band program with a new Baritone saxophone.
College for Kids 2023
Grant Wood AEA
Funds will be utilized to provide scholarships to Marion Independent School District students for the summer 2023 College for Kids program.
Below are projects that were awarded funding in 2021.
the joy of reading
Rebecca VonBehren & Terri Schmidt – Starry Elementary
Kim DeWulf & Marcy Shie – Longfellow Elementary
Providing a free book once a month to every kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade student. Students keep the books to grow their libraries at home.
ukuleles in the classroom
Erin Bunge – Francis Marion Intermediate
Dennis Fleege – Marion High School
A set of 25 ukuleles with method books for the 3rd and 4th grade music classroom. High school students will be building a cart to store the ukuleles with materials also funded by the school foundation.
choir ipad upgrade
Kari Scherbring – Vernon Middle School
A new iPad Pro with protective cover and Apple pen to use for instruction. The school foundation provided this same technology to the high school choir and band directors in 2020. It has been used to store music, record lessons for feedback, edit music on the spot and more.
special education furniture improvements
MacKenzie Schroeder & Hilary Hansen – Marion High School
New functional furniture for the high school’s special education classrooms. This includes white board tables to assist with visual problem-solving, adjustable standing desks and stools, and items to create a quiet corner in the classrooms.
Piano Keyboard Project
Olivia Freesmeier – Vernon Middle School
Seven new full-size keyboards and accessories for 5th and 6th grade General Music. Students will continue to learn piano basics as part of the curriculum.
in pursuit of better
Kyle VonBehren – Marion High School
Six iPads with casing and docking stations for the weight room that will allow for better use of the PLT4M app for Strength & Conditioning and P.E. program use.
practice room piano
Jonathan Dyrland – Marion High School
Sharing the cost of a new Clavinova keyboard for the high school choir practice room with the Marion Music Booster Club.
College for Kids Scholarships
Susie Green – Grant Wood Area Education Agency
Grant Wood AEA’s College for Kids is a summer program offering advanced level academic and fine arts courses in the college setting to eligible students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. Through the College for Kids experience, students are offered advanced or specialized curricula, and have the opportunity to further explore a hobby or a topic of interest not typically available in middle school general education. Scholarships are once again available to eligible Vernon Middle School and Marion Home School students for Summer 2022.
Go direct probeware
Madi Carolan – Marion High School
New science lab equipment impacts students across 9 different science courses, allowing them to collect and analyze data in real-time using grant-funded probes and sensors that feed to an app on their district-issued Chromebooks.
archery in schools
Elli Netolicky – Vernon Middle School
Grant funds supported the purchase of new archery equipment including bows, arrows, and targets to be used by 6th, 7th and 8th grade PE students and the Vernon Middle School Archery Club.
tig welder
Dennis Fleege – Marion High School
As interest in the industrial tech program grows, a second TIG welder was needed for students enrolled in Metals 2 and the Kirkwood Welding Certification course at Marion High School.
Imagination library
Cheryl Kiburz – Friends of the Marion Public Library
Nicole Harmer – Longfellow Elementary
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book program that gifts high-quality, age-appropriate books to Marion children. This is a second investment in this program that was brought to Marion by FMPL in 2019 with support from the Marion Independent School Foundation. Enrollment is free for all children ages 0-5 who live in the 52302 zip code.
MISD Summer Institute
Instructional Coaches – Marion Independent School District
Grant funding supported raffle giveaways at the 2022 MISD Summer Institute. Prizes related to the learning topics covered during staff professional development sessions and are for classroom use.
band folders
Logan Vander Wiel – Marion High School
Band students now have quality folders to hold their sheet music with a spot for those easy-to-misplace pencils, adding professionalism to the program.