JACKSON, Wyo. — The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole is leading the effort to close a funding gap by providing the schools with a $400,000 grant from the Community Emergency Response Fund.
COVID-19 has left Teton County School District #1 with more than $2.2 million in emergency expenses including specialized equipment for classrooms, new health, and safety programs, expanded free meal offerings, and adapted learning technologies. Less than 20% of that cost is covered by state and federal relief funds, leaving schools to face an enormous unmet need.
This lead grant, awarded to the Fund for Public Education will be used to purchase essential safety equipment for all ten public schools and to improve remote learning opportunities for all students.
“The Community Emergency Response Fund was established at the onset of the pandemic to provide immediate support to our community’s most vulnerable groups,” remarked Laurie Andrews, President of the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. “Supporting the safe reopening of schools is a top priority for our whole community. I applaud the extensive measures that the school district is taking to safeguard hundreds of families.”
TCSD#1 Superintendent, Dr. Gillian Chapman, expressed the district’s gratitude for the gift. “On behalf of the Teton County School District trustees, staff, and students, we are so grateful for the support of the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and the Fund for Public Education. This generous gift ensures that all district facilities are updated with improved ventilation systems; necessary equipment to ensure the health, safety and mental wellbeing of students and staff; and access for all students to engage in the high-quality education expected from the Teton County School District. These honors go to our entire community for it is a community of excellence that creates a district worthy of distinction.”
While this grant represents significant progress toward ensuring that our schools have what they need to reopen safely, there is still a long way to go.
“Over the past few months, the pandemic has reminded us all that public schools are an essential component of our community, not just for education, but for social services, mental health support, child care, meals, and so much more,” said Jennifer Jellen, Executive Director of the Fund for Public Education. “Providing these services during a pandemic is an enormous challenge, and we need everyone’s support to make it happen. Please join us in supporting the public schools. Your gift ensures a successful year for thousands of students, provides critical support for hundreds of families, and strengthens our entire community.”
More the 2,900 students and over 500 staff depend on Teton County School District #1. Essential needs at the moment include specialized safety equipment for 271 classrooms and learning spaces, new technologies for remote learning, support for the free meal program, improvements to facilities used by school nurses, and COVID-19 testing for student-athletes so that TCSD#1 can continue providing safe and enriching activities throughout the school year.
In addition to the Community Foundation, local businesses and organizations are also stepping up. The Teton Board of Realtors recently donated $35,000 to cover new monitoring devices that check students’ temperatures as they enter schools.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed,” said Jellen. “The support we’ve received from partners like the Community Foundation and Teton Board of Realtors gives us the best shot at keeping schools open and keeping kids safe during COVID-19.”
