Kearney R-1 School District is looking for a solid foundation.

Patricia Kern appealed to the Kearney Chamber of Commerce luncheon attendees Wednesday, Feb. 1, to support the Kearney School District Education Foundation.

She said the foundation provided 20 “Triple E” grants the past two years and plans to give 10 more grants this year.

The Enhancing the Educational Experience grants provide funds for teachers to buy things in the classroom that were not in the budget.

Kern said it boosts morale for staff.

“The teachers deserve our help and the kids need it,” she said.

Past Triple E grants have provided ACT college prep materials. Kern said Kearney R-1 students average a score of 22.7 on the ACT while the state average is 21.

She said grants have also paid for classroom “clickers.”

These devices used in the classroom by students allow the teacher to see instantly how many students are correctly answering questions and tracking whether they can move on to new material or re-teach something students are not understanding.

The foundation also supports the Kearney High School robotics club and hopes to offer scholarships in the near future.

Prior to Kern’s presentation Superintendent Bill Nicely played a promotional video for the foundation that included foundation members talking about why they support the foundation.

“I think we have an excellent school district here,” KHS alumnus Fire Chief Larry Pratt said in the video.

The school district employs about 250 teachers and has about 3,400 students enrolled.

Following Kern’s presentation, Vicky Bland of Citizens Bank and Trust of Kearney presented the foundation a check for $860.65. She said it was just coincidence as she didn’t know that would be the presentation for the day but planned to visit Nicely later that day to present the check.

Customers at Citizens Bank & Trust in Kearney can sign up for the Bulldog debit card and for each dollar of purchases made with the card, the bank donates money to the foundation.

Bland said she hopes the next check to the foundation will be at least $1,000. The amount has increased each quarter since the debit card program began.

For more information on the foundation, including donating or becoming a member, visit www.ksdf1.org.

The Kearney School District Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductable.

Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or kevinsmith@npgco.com.