Mid-Del Public Schools Foundation donates money for technology

Joe Groves memorial fund gives $2,600 to MCHS band

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Mid-Del Public Schools Foundation last week presented money to local schools.

The organization donated $30,000 to the school district to purchase technology and equipment. The money will be used to buy 72 Chromebooks with cases, two carts to transport them, as well as all licenses and warranties necessary.

The Foundation typically donates money in the beginning of the school year for teacher grants. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group decided to use money to help provide new devices.

“We thought that teachers have so much on their plates with virtual and remote learning this year, that asking them to write grants would just be another thing they have to do,” said Lindse Barks, Foundation director.

The school district expects to receive the new Chromebooks in January. High demand for tablets and laptops nationwide has caused delays for large orders.

Barks said the Foundation will likely plan another donation later this school year.

The Foundation also presented $2,400 to the Midwest City High School Band in memory of Joe Groves. The family set up a memorial fund through the Foundation to benefit the band. Groves was a Midwest City High School alumna and member of the band.

In addition to the checks, the Foundation also donated 1,000 face masks to the school district. The masks were presented to Erin Harry, district health coordinator, and will be used throughout the district as needed.

The Foundation sold face masks with names and logos for each of the three high schools earlier this year. They used proceeds from the Mask for Mid-Del fundraiser to purchase masks for the district.

Masks with the high school names and logos can be purchased through the Foundation’s website mid-delpublicschoolsfoundation.org.