The Ojai Post

They are due Friday, May 1. Winning grants will be announced later in May for the 2009-10 school year.

Easy-to-complete applications are available from school principals and may be downloaded from the OEF Web site, http://www.ojaief.org/minigrants.htm. The Ojai Education Foundation could give as much as $12,000 in grants this year, according to Mike Caldwell, OEF president. Last year, OEF and both the Rotary Club of Ojai and the Rotary Club of Ojai-West funded a total of $12,678 in minigrants to Ojai Unified School District educators.

Heather Ramsey, head teacher at Summit Elementary School in Upper Ojai, wrote a winning $1,250 grant last year to buy quizzes and books for the Accelerated Reader reading program. "The benefits are phenomenal," Ramsey said. "The program provides a lot of excitement about reading."

Among the other minigrants awarded last year were a science program, reading tapes and kindergarten program for Topa Topa Elementary; a digital projector, interactive learning program and Interwrite pad for San Antonio Elementary; a books and Accelerated Reader program for Mira Monte Elementary; a game club for Meiners Oaks Elementary; a "Strengths Quest" program for Matilija Junior High. The Rotary clubs funded minigrants for elementary music equipment; and maps, a "Rockets in Motion" science program; science equipment maintenance; academic partnerships and instant comprehension program for Nordhoff High School.

"In light of proposed state budget cuts to education, OEF’s mission to support public education is more vital than ever," Caldwell said. For more information about OEF, log on to http://www.ojaief.org. E-mail: info@ojaief.org. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1769, Ojai, CA 93024.