Taft Lincoln and Conley Schools Look to Prop. 8 Grant Funds for New School Gyms
by Jessica G. Miller -
March 12, 2010
The budget cuts that schools all over California are facing is a crucial matter, however, the availability of grants and funds is still out there.
One such opportunity that Conley Elementary and Lincoln Jr. High in conjunction with the Westside Parks and Recreation District are taking advantage of is Proposition 84 or the, "Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006."
Prop 84 is a $368 million grant project designed for public parks statewide to help create new recreation opportunities for communities lacking adequate facilities. The eligibility provisions are specific and stringent. For example the candidates must be in significant poverty, schools are not allowed to apply, only organizations like park districts, cities, counties, and non-profit organizations, and different members throughout the community must be involved.
For Lincoln and Conley this opportunity could not passed by. Teaming up with WSRPD, both schools were able to apply for a $100 thousand to $5 million grant to build new athletic fields and courts, gymnasiums, playgrounds and the like. If either school is given this grant, not only will the school be able to update their equipment or lack thereof but the community will also reap from the benefits, as another requirement of the grant is that the new facilities built must be open to the public.
Conley Principal, Lisa Kindred, is confident in her school's chance at getting this grant. "We meet the needs of the grant and our playground is so old and desolate," she said. "We virtually don't have much of a playground. Our highlight is the blue bars and that's a big deal here." Kindred explained that the set of parallel bars are the focal point on their playground for the children. With only the blue bars, two swings and two basketball hoops, the students don't have many options. "We have 250 kids and there's not a lot to do," she said. "When it's really hot, really windy or raining, we can't play on the playground. We have to go into the library and watch a movie." And since P.E. is affected by these circumstances as well, "they don't have any activity," she explained.
If Conley is granted the funds, it will offer the Rec the ability to widen their range of family and sporting activities. Additionally, the school will have the chance to fulfill the "wish list" they have compiled with various representatives of the community along with the teachers and staff members. The list, which includes a completely new gym and modernizing the playground among several other amenities, will provide accommodations for not just the students but for the community as a whole, particularly the residents of South Taft who are in much need of any type of park facility. Kindred expressed that she is excited for her students, "It'll be beautiful up here if it happens. It will be like Disneyland for us."
Lincoln's Prop 84 plans are similar to Conley's but not entirely. Assistant Principal, Roland Maier, is enthusiastic about the prospect of the generous grant and "wish list" created by the P.E. teachers. "We need to pursue it," he said. "We have the demographics fit, everything fits and I think it's a great opportunity." The variations in Lincoln's plans include reconditioning the soccer field, a new parking lot and building a state of the art gym on the south side of the school that would incorporate a classroom designed for possible anatomy and health classes. "We're meeting the community needs but yet we're still meeting ours," he explained. "We'll still use our regular gym but it [the new gym] will give us more flexibility." Maier hopes to broaden the scale of athletics and start focusing on fitness, "I would like to see a weight room where the little gym is and have a nice set and treadmills so we can really teach kids how to take responsibility for their fitness."
Lincoln's proposed renovations, like Conley's, will be available to the public. "The gym is going to be in the corner so the community can get into it," Maier said. "That will be a real plus for when the community wants to use it, it'll be available."
Technically, Lincoln and Conley are up against each other for the grant but they are also up against the other cities, organizations and districts throughout California. "I think Conley, because there is nothing around and no park area, would have a better chance at getting it [the grant]," Maier said. "Then if the money is still there and they allow two in one area then I think we'll have a good shot."
Kindred, however excited for the great prospect for her school, has her fingers crossed that both schools will be chosen for the grant. "Lincoln's plan is wonderful and very needed too," she said. "I'm hoping we get them both."
Whether either or both schools receive the bond money, it will be an exciting event for all Taftians to have the new recreational activities and facilities made available.
One such opportunity that Conley Elementary and Lincoln Jr. High in conjunction with the Westside Parks and Recreation District are taking advantage of is Proposition 84 or the, "Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006."
Prop 84 is a $368 million grant project designed for public parks statewide to help create new recreation opportunities for communities lacking adequate facilities. The eligibility provisions are specific and stringent. For example the candidates must be in significant poverty, schools are not allowed to apply, only organizations like park districts, cities, counties, and non-profit organizations, and different members throughout the community must be involved.
For Lincoln and Conley this opportunity could not passed by. Teaming up with WSRPD, both schools were able to apply for a $100 thousand to $5 million grant to build new athletic fields and courts, gymnasiums, playgrounds and the like. If either school is given this grant, not only will the school be able to update their equipment or lack thereof but the community will also reap from the benefits, as another requirement of the grant is that the new facilities built must be open to the public.
Conley Principal, Lisa Kindred, is confident in her school's chance at getting this grant. "We meet the needs of the grant and our playground is so old and desolate," she said. "We virtually don't have much of a playground. Our highlight is the blue bars and that's a big deal here." Kindred explained that the set of parallel bars are the focal point on their playground for the children. With only the blue bars, two swings and two basketball hoops, the students don't have many options. "We have 250 kids and there's not a lot to do," she said. "When it's really hot, really windy or raining, we can't play on the playground. We have to go into the library and watch a movie." And since P.E. is affected by these circumstances as well, "they don't have any activity," she explained.
If Conley is granted the funds, it will offer the Rec the ability to widen their range of family and sporting activities. Additionally, the school will have the chance to fulfill the "wish list" they have compiled with various representatives of the community along with the teachers and staff members. The list, which includes a completely new gym and modernizing the playground among several other amenities, will provide accommodations for not just the students but for the community as a whole, particularly the residents of South Taft who are in much need of any type of park facility. Kindred expressed that she is excited for her students, "It'll be beautiful up here if it happens. It will be like Disneyland for us."
Lincoln's Prop 84 plans are similar to Conley's but not entirely. Assistant Principal, Roland Maier, is enthusiastic about the prospect of the generous grant and "wish list" created by the P.E. teachers. "We need to pursue it," he said. "We have the demographics fit, everything fits and I think it's a great opportunity." The variations in Lincoln's plans include reconditioning the soccer field, a new parking lot and building a state of the art gym on the south side of the school that would incorporate a classroom designed for possible anatomy and health classes. "We're meeting the community needs but yet we're still meeting ours," he explained. "We'll still use our regular gym but it [the new gym] will give us more flexibility." Maier hopes to broaden the scale of athletics and start focusing on fitness, "I would like to see a weight room where the little gym is and have a nice set and treadmills so we can really teach kids how to take responsibility for their fitness."
Lincoln's proposed renovations, like Conley's, will be available to the public. "The gym is going to be in the corner so the community can get into it," Maier said. "That will be a real plus for when the community wants to use it, it'll be available."
Technically, Lincoln and Conley are up against each other for the grant but they are also up against the other cities, organizations and districts throughout California. "I think Conley, because there is nothing around and no park area, would have a better chance at getting it [the grant]," Maier said. "Then if the money is still there and they allow two in one area then I think we'll have a good shot."
Kindred, however excited for the great prospect for her school, has her fingers crossed that both schools will be chosen for the grant. "Lincoln's plan is wonderful and very needed too," she said. "I'm hoping we get them both."
Whether either or both schools receive the bond money, it will be an exciting event for all Taftians to have the new recreational activities and facilities made available.
