Coyote Foundation donates $30,000 to Williston Public School District 1

A laminator at Hagan Elementary School recently quit functioning.

In addition, like other schools in Williston District 1, Hagan is in need of new materials. Principal Darla Ratzak was thrilled when she learned her school is receiving $4,050 with no strings attached.

“It was wonderful,” she said about receiving the money. “We never have enough to do the things we need to do.”

Williston High School principal Chris Kittleson also is happy about receiving a grant for $10,550.

“It’ll really help to supplement the classrooms. I’m very pleased,” he said, noting the generosity of Coyote Foundation President John Schmitz and Executive Director Del Easton.

“They bleed orange and black,” Kittleson said.

The Coyote Foundation recently decided to give a total of $30,000 to Williston’s public schools. The money is to be divided according to the number of students in each school.

The money comes from alumni donations. The foundation wanted to give the schools a grant they could use for whatever was needed.

“We don’t really know what their needs are,” Easton said.

Usually to receive a grant, school officials have to write for them and then wait and see if they’ll get them. But in this case, they didn’t have to do anything to receive the money.

Ratzak said the plan is to split the money throughout the grades and get the teachers involved, because each grade level needs something different. The high school is doing something similar, as a department chair meeting is planned so the money can be prioritized for individual classroom needs, Kittleson said.

Lewis and Clark Elementary School plans to use its $3,350 for technology, said principal Terry Quintus. One item it plans to buy is a Promethean ActivBoard, an interactive white board that enables anything that can be done or seen on a computer screen to be projected onto a white board.

Another possibility is an amplifying system in which portable microphones would amplify teachers’ voices so teachers with soft voices can be heard well, and students who have trouble hearing due to ear infections can hear better, Quintus said.

Quintus appreciates the financial assistance in the face of uncertain economic times.

“At times, you’re trying to play catch up,” Quintus said.

The grant is proof “the support of the community is there,” he said.