The Andalusia City Schools Foundation this week approved $54,771.14 in grants to teachers in the Andalusia City School System.

The requests from teachers included Accelerated Reader books, classroom curriculum, art supplies, projectors and computers, theatrical productions, the annual academic banquet, Feasting Around the World, a trip to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival program and a fine arts program.

The Foundation Board met at the Andalusia City School Board offices on Oct. 22 to consider grant requests from teachers throughout the city school system. The grant requests from teachers totaled more than $60,000.

“We are so pleased that we have the resources available to support our teachers and students,” Mark Ingram, president of the Andalusia City Schools Foundation, said. “This is truly the work that we are all here to do – to further excellence in education for the lives of our students.

As superintendent, Ted Watson meets with the board but does not have a vote. He said it is always interesting to see the projects teachers come up with.

“We have projects that absolutely exist because of this foundation,” he said, adding that those projects range from securing the rights to produce Music Man in March at Andalusia High School to frog guts, a virtual dissection tool used at Andalusia Middle School, to art supplies or any number of special needs not funded by the state for the past several years.

“Our students get a lot of extras like field trips because of the work done by this foundation,” Watson said. “I am forever grateful for the Foundation.”

The foundation was formed in November 1987, for the express purpose of promoting and furthering excellence of education and study within the Andalusia City School System. Its efforts have encouraged and enhanced academic opportunities through the funding of an annual academic banquet, providing funds for field trips to the Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, and putting cutting-edge technology in classrooms.

Contributions to the Andalusia City Schools Foundation are accepted throughout the year by contacting the superintendent’s office at 334-222-3186 or any board member. Members of the Andalusia City School Foundation Board include Ingram, Tom Albritton, David Bryant, Kyle Gantt, Sammy Glover, Danny Posey, John Roberts, Greg White, John Roach, Maria Wells, Walter Wytch and Watson.