The Foundation for Madison's Public Schools awarded more than $55,000 in grants for 11 MMSD projects in April during the Foundation's annual bus tour.

Grantees were surprised with checks for projects ranging from a high school publishing program to turning behavioral issues into learning experiences. The Foundation's grant program enables MMSD staff to fund creative and innovative projects that are outside the core school budget.

The grantees are selected by a Foundation Grants Committee consisting of staff, community and Board members. All grants are approved by the FMPS Board of Directors. Since 2001, the Foundation has provided more than $375,000 to support staff and student-initiated projects.

The grantees for 2007-08 are:

• Muir Elementary $5050 - "Building Literacy Skills and Strengthening Our School Community through Readers' Theater"
• MMSD/Teaching and Learning District $5950 - "Logging on to Literacy Learning"
• Glendale Elementary $10,000 - "Glendale CSC Model (Collaboration, Shared Ownership, and Coaching)
• MMSD/Assistant Superintendents $10,000 - "Creating Above the Line Classrooms and Schools "
• West High $3000 - "Personal Learning Plan"
• Elvehjem Elementary $3500 (Underwritten by the Madison Central Lions Club) - "Elvehjem Elementary School Playground Improvement Project"
• East High $2500 - "East High School Publishing Project"
• Mendota & Lindberg Elementary $6600 ($1600 Music Fund) - "All Together Now"
• Chavez Elementary $6600 ($1600 Music Fund) - "Let's Rap"
• Shorewood Hills Elementary $1516 (Wozniak/Dickinson Visual Arts Fund) - "Growing Friendships Around the World"
• Wright Middle $1037 (Immigrant Families Fund) - "Spanish for Spanish Speakers"

For a full description of these programs, visit www.fmps.org.