Foundation for a Strong Education: An inside look at the District 88 Foundation EPA 609 Certification mini-grant

Pictured is District 88 Foundation Chairperson Sharon Kucik.

Since the 2013-14 school year, the District 88 Foundation has been proud to award mini-grant funds for staff members to implement instructional opportunities that benefit students at Addison Trail and Willowbrook. To date, the foundation has awarded 76 mini-grants, for a total of more than $36,500!

That funding has supported a rain garden, cooking programs, music tools/software, theatre events, technology enhancements, providing mentor speakers and more. Through the Foundation for a Strong Education column, we’re excited to share how these mini-grants are benefiting our students. The column will run on the last Friday of each month during the school year and provides direct feedback from teachers and students on how these innovative programs and projects are making a positive difference in our buildings.

This month, we’re thrilled to showcase the EPA 609 Certification mini-grant for Addison Trail.

About the mini-grant: Funding from this mini-grant provided Addison Trail students with the opportunity to take and earn their EPA 609 License, which allows them to legally work on motor vehicle air conditioning systems.

School year(s) the mini-grant was awarded: 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17

Number of students who benefited from this mini-grant: About 20 Addison Trail students took the certification exam each year, for a total of about 60 students. Twenty-eight students passed the exam.

Staff member who applied for/received the mini-grant: Addison Trail Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher Keith Santini

How did this mini-grant impact student learning? “Students tried harder during the unit of study. Students entering the workforce said many of the employers they interviewed with were very impressed they had earned their 609 license.”

- Addison Trail Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher Keith Santini

The District 88 Foundation is a member of the Partnership for Inspired Education (PIE) Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves public school students in District 88, Addison School District 4, School District 45 and Salt Creek School District 48. Founded in 2009, PIE is designed to be the foundation that supports a long-term partnership with the community, businesses, schools and, most importantly, the children served. For more information about PIE, go to www.piefoundation.org.

The District 88 Foundation hosts and participates in a variety of events each year to raise money, and those funds wouldn’t be possible without your support. Your generous donations allow us to continue providing mini-grants, which could not otherwise be funded through the district’s budget.

You can make a donation by:

  • Mailing your tax-deductible contribution to:

PIE Foundation
P.O. Box 5438
Villa Park, IL 60181

*Please make checks payable to “District 88 Foundation”

Thank you for your continued support of the District 88 Foundation.

  • The Foundation for a Strong Education column provides an inside look into mini-grants provided by the District 88 Foundation for staff members to implement instructional opportunities that benefit District 88 students. This feature will share how these mini-grants are making a positive difference at Addison Trail and Willowbrook to build futures for our students and help accomplish District 88’s mission of working for the continuous improvement of student achievement. The column will run in the District 88 Newsletter on the last Friday of each month during the school year. For more information about the foundation, go to www.dupage88.net/foundation.