Farmington Schools Welcome Grants, Donations

An on-going partnership between and Detroit Area Community Action Committee (CAC) has netted the school more than $6,000 to use toward expanding technology.

Last fall, Gill was awarded $2,680 from the committee, and last month, school officials learned that Hitachi Foundation awarded Gill with a matching grant, along with an additional $900 from the CAC. In total, $6,260 was received in grant money.

The money will be used toward Gill’s Technology Supported Curriculum Initiative. Specifically the money will be used to ensure all of the classrooms have a document camera and projector to help facilitate lessons. Instructors can use the projectors for science projects, showing small objects in 3-D, showing documents or use them in lieu of additional textbooks.

Through a mentoring program, Hitachi employees come to Gill every other Thursday to have lunch with the students and help them with their school work. 

Late last month, Brooks Utility Products, a Farmington Hills supplier of metering related products for electric, gas and water utility industries, surprised with a $2,100 donation. Raised though a bottle collection and 50/50 drawing, the money will be used to support the students’ community-based experiences, as well as providing some equipment to meet students sensory and gross motor skill needs.

Cloverdale principal Bobbie Goodrum and several students welcomed Erick Rudaitis, the company's director of engineering, along with employees Diana Smolar and Peggy Gardella when they dropped off the check.