What Is BREF?
The Blue Ridge Education Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2003 to enhance educational excellence for the children of Blue Ridge Schools. Although BREF is independent of the school district, it works cooperatively with the school district to ensure that BREF allocations target school district needs. BREF believes that strong schools are vital to building strong communities. At its best, public education involves community partnerships – partners in learning. The success of the schools and the communities go hand in hand.
We accomplish our mission through our grant programs, which provide Blue Ridge School teachers with the knowledge, experience, and materials they need to remain at the frontiers of educational excellence. Our grants finance educational opportunities outside the scope of the school operating budget and target areas such as innovation in curriculum and instruction, support programs, extracurricular activities, and professional development.
BREF is directed by a non-salaried board of community members and supported by contributions from residents and area businesses. BREF donors and volunteers reflect the spirit of cooperation, generosity, and shared responsibility for the public education.
Mission Statement
The Foundation represents the community commitment to providing financial support that will enhance, supplement, and expand the educational opportunities of the students of Blue Ridge Community Unit School District #18.
Foundation Goals and Objectives:
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To stimulate and enhance community pride and support for education.
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To assist in developing, maintaining and increasing the educational facilities and/or services of Blue Ridge CUSD #18, for better and broader service to its students and staff and to the citizens of the State of Illinois, by encouraging gifts of money, property, works of art and other property of value, and by such other proper means as may seem advisable.
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To promote membership in the Foundation that reflects the community demographics.
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To determine the most appropriate expenditures of Foundation resources that will help to provide special learning experiences for the students.
Board of Directors
Since its founding in 2003, BREF has been governed by a non-salaried board whose members serve for specified terms. Assisting the Board in a non-voting, ex officio capacity is the Superintendent of Blue Ridge Schools. We also depend on volunteers for help with our programs, events, and publications.
To ensure our programs are relevant and effective, we work closely with the Blue Ridge Schools. The Foundation is a private, separate entity, however, and makes decisions...
THIS JUST IN...
A VWR VistaVision Stereo Microscope donated to a Blue Ridge High School science classroom through the Teacher Store program. A value of $1,400.
Classroom Grants
Examples of Previously Sponsored Projects
- Software allowing biology students to perform simulated dissections, thus reducing other supplies and expanding the types of dissections that can be performed.
- Heart Monitors and “Pysioballs” for 4 th-6 th grade PE classes to help expand their focus from sports to teaching active lifestyles as some 6 th graders now exceed 200 lbs.
- Digital Video Camera for Pre K classes to help document children’s behavior to help in assessment and communication with parents at conferences.
- Funded the Explore Test, which helps 8 th graders plan their High School curriculum.
-Helped fund the PBIS Program, which rewards Schneider students for exhibiting respectful & responsible behavior by allowing them to turn in “gotcha” slips for school supplies.
- Supplies for the 4 th-8 th grade Mentoring Program to help them continue to mentor at-risk kids in a constructive setting.
- Craft supplies for 6 th graders to make Egyptian masks, Mesopotamian tablets, and Trojan horses as they learn about world cultures.
- Software to automate processing of library materials to the benefit of every campus.
- Continued support of the Accelerated Reader Program, which promotes reading and comprehension.
- Supplies for 2 nd graders to have small animals in the classroom for extended periods including mammals, reptiles & arachnids.
- A reusable Simulated Fossil Dig where grade school students use what they are leaning about anthropology to uncover buried bones & other fossils.
- Supplies for the 5 th grade Victorian Project where students build scrapbooks and dioramas of the time period’s lifestyle including the many inventions that came from it.
- Many, many, more…
BREF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kevin Maxwell, president
Duane Runyon , vice president
Sandy Shaw, secretary
Lynette Bogard, treasurer
Don Deffenbaugh
Tom Yeagle
Brenda Reeser
Brent Cordes
Jay Harnack, Superintendent (Ex-Officio)