The Scorecard

The Grants Department has initiated a new grant monitoring system that will allow grant program managers to evaluate grant progress through the use of the Scorecard. The Scorecard is a rubric that evaluates grant programs in the areas of:1) Knowledge of Grant Program, 2) Grant Budget, 3) Documentation and Communication, 4) Evaluation, 5) Collaboration, and 6) Timeline.The Scorecard is completed every nine weeks: October 23rd, January 14th, April 1st, and June 4th.The Scorecard can be accessed by clicking on the following link:http://www.saisd.net/dept/grants/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=40&Itemid=61

College for Kids-Intensive Summer Pilot Program 

(Left) Instructors for the College for Kids program pose together after the College for Kids Opening Orientation Ceremony. They attended training sessions prior to the program and provided the students with hands-on and exciting learning experiences throughout the content areas, Reading, Math, and Science.

(Middle) A parent signs in for the College for Kids Opening Orientation Ceremony on June 12, 2009 at the McAllister Auditorium at San Antonio College.  With a grant from the Texas Education Agency, the College for Kids provided a four week academic summer program for seventh grade students from middle schools in San Antonio ISD. The Keynote speaker Dr. Eli Whitney, a cardiologist and dynamic speaker, shared encouraging words for students and parents. 

(Right) Tamara Holcolmb, Curriculum Managment, demonstrates to teachers how to use the NOVA computers that students used in the College for Kids program.

Office of Grant Development, Management, and Monitoring (GDMM) Statement 
The mission of the Office of GDMM is to provide support to the San Antonio Independent School District staff and faculty seeking to secure external funding to improve student achievement and thereby reach the District’s goal of exemplary status. 

The services provided by the Office of GDMM include, but are not limited to: 

• Research and distribute grant and funding alerts to the SAISD departments and school Grant Contacts; 
• Serve as a liaison between external collaborations and SAISD staff and faculty;  
• Maintain a database of grant alerts and collaborating organizations;  
• Provide technical assistance in developing award-winning proposals;  
• Provide technical assistance in preparing the proposal budget and amendments;
• Review grants and contracts to ensure compliance with the District’s mission, policies, and procedures;
• Secure assurances and certifications;
• Submit grant applications to the Superintendent for approval and signature;  
•  Provide grant writing training sessions; and 

Grant Writing Level 2-Foundation Grants

Grant Writing Level 2-Foundation Grants is a continuation from the Grant Writing Basics training in January, 2009. On July 30th, the training continued with the application of basic grant concepts to help participants develop a letter of intent and learn about how to prepare a proposal to submit to a foundation for funding. The presenter, Kish Russell, Grant Writer, led the training through "a road trip through the grantwriting process". Activities included: Road Trip Review game, the Letter of Intent travel time, Proposal travel time, Proposal Jeopardy, and much more. Keep on the look out for the next training in January 2010.

Target Field Trip Grant-Charles C. Ball Elementary School

Kish Russell, former kindergarten teacher at Ball Elementary, presents Gloria Farias, with a check for $800 from Target. The Kindergarten classes at Charles C. Ball Elementary School were awarded a grant for $800 for a field trip to the San Antonio Stockshow and Rodeo on Feb. 17, 2009. The field trip is a part of the kindergarten unit on the farm. Students learned about different types of different farm animals, the importance of agriculture in our lives, where products we use come from and how they are made, how to handle and care for animals, and careers in the agricultural industry.

 Texas Fitness Now! Grant- Texas Education Agency

The Texas Fitness Now! Grant provides Physical Education Teachers with professional development and the use of the Fitnessgram to monitor 6th through 8th grade students' physical fitness progress and development.

Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller, (center) tries out the new fitness equipment as Roger Rodriguez, Director of Physical Education/Health/Safe and Drug Free Schools, (right) assists her with the new equipment.

2008-2009 Grants Awarded

This Land is Your Land/The Secret Garden-S.H. Gates Elementary

Lenski Covey Grant for School Libraries-Brackenridge Academy School Library, Poe Middle School Library, Fenwick Elementary School Library, Maverick Elementary School Library, Wheatley Middle School Library, Wilson Elementary School Library, and Young Women's Leadership Academy School Library

NASA Robotics Alliance Project-First Robotics Team Award-Brackenridge High School

EXXONMobil Grant-P.F. Stewart Elementary

Best Buy Teach Award  Program-Bonham Academy 

Intensive Summer Programs Pilot-Texas Education Agency-Seventh grade students throughout San Antonio ISD

Intensive Technology Based Academic Intervention Pilot-Texas Education Agency-Burbank H.S., Jefferson H.S., Brackenridge H.S., Edison H.S., Fox Tech H.S., Sam Houston H.S., Lanier H.S., and Highlands H.S.

Collaborative Dropout Reduction Pilot Program-Texas Education Agency- Highlands High School

Grant Management Essentials Training-April 1, 2009 at Region 20

Barbara Rodriguez and Teri Reese, Funds Managment Department, share valuable information about managing the funds for a grant project.

Betty Haston, Purchasing Department, speaks to a group of participants about how to make purchases using grant funds.

Lucia Luna and John Guardia, Parent & Community Relations, explain how participants can include parents into their grant project.