Partnership opens doors for Lynn schools to pursue grants

LYNN – In a time when municipal budgets are seemingly getting tighter every year, school districts are being forced to think creatively in order to supplement their funding.Lynn Public Schools has just aced a test in that regard, with help from a longtime partner. The district and the Lynn Business Education Foundation forged an agreement enabling Lynn Public Schools to apply for private grants whenever foundations and corporations require applicants to have 501(c)(3) status – typically a minimum criterion for such funding.As public entities, school districts are not eligible for 501(c)(3) status. Under the agreement, grant applications will be submitted through the Business Ed. Foundation, which will distribute any money received to LPS.?This is an exciting and significant development for our school district,” said Superintendent Dr. Catherine C. Latham. “It has the potential to open doors that were previously unavailable to us.”Knocking on those doors will be Sarah Jackson, coordinator of private partnerships for LPS.Among the areas in which Jackson is pursuing grants is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). She is working with Rick Held, LPS assistant director of curriculum and instruction for science, to identify private funding and industry partnerships that would connect students with engineers, scientists and other STEM professionals.?The district?s new agreement with the Lynn Business Education Foundation places us on a level playing field with other school districts when it comes to fundraising from private sources,” Jackson said. “This is a very big and exciting step for Lynn Public Schools.”Charlie Gallo, chair of the Lynn School Committee?s grants subcommittee, said Lynn is now in a small group of school districts with 501 (c)(3) eligibility, along with the likes of Boston, Brockton, Brookline and Newton. “We are joining a handful of trailblazers in this area,” he said.The memorandum of understanding with the Business Ed. Foundation is the culmination of 17 months of work undertaken by the grants subcommittee. “There have been a number of steps leading up to this,” Gallo said. “This is an exciting day for Lynn and the start of new possibilities. We?re really grateful to the Lynn Business Ed. Foundation for working with us.”Founded in 1986, the Lynn Business Education Foundation encourages innovation and experimentation within schools by providing resources that result in increased academic achievement. The foundation provides grants and professional development for teachers and career-readiness training for students.Executive Director Dr. Frederick M. Cole said making the organization?s 501(c)(3) status available to Lynn Public Schools is a natural extension of the longtime partnership with the schools.?Now the schools will have access to potential funding that they did not have before,” Cole said.