Raider Scholastic Foundation Overview

The Brookville Area Raider Scholastic Foundation is a 501c (3) nonprofit corporation that supports the students, staff and graduates of Brookville Area School District.

Although the Foundation and BASD are separate entities, they partner to support education in two key ways. The Foundation awards scholarships to BAHS graduates as they pursue further education. Scholarship awards can support alumni who are attending colleges and universities as well as those attending trade and technical programs.

Another function of the Foundation is to award grants to fund special projects devised by BASD teachers. Minigrant applications are received on a rolling basis and reviewed by the board of directors. In recent years, grants have covered everything from early literacy programs to high school robotics to AP exams.

Some minigrants are funded with EITC monies,as the Foundation is a qualified recipient of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program and several local businesses have directed their EITC funds to the Foundation. Scholarships, on the other hand, rely on the support of families and individuals.

The Foundation operates under the direction of a twelve-member board, seven of whom are community members and five of whom represent the school district.

The directors encourage everyone – alumni especially – to consider including the Foundation in their estate planning processes. To endow a scholarship is to contribute to the community and the country for years to come. For more information, or to make a donation, contact Ellen Neyman at (814) 849-1101.

Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)

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The EITC program allows businesses to get involved in education and workforce training and to support the schools where their own children attend. The school district, meanwhile, benefits from the infusion of financial support, and students benefit from creative and authentic programming. The following is a list of EITC approved programs supported by the Brookville Area Raider Scholastic Foundation.

STREAM

STREAM involves the thoughtful integration of science, technology, reading, engineering, art and math into the curriculum. The shift connects students to more rigorous and relevant content and eliminates barriers between subjects. STREAM learning also provides students with the opportunity to pursue their passions and develop critical and creative thinking skills. 

Makerspaces

As example of STREAM, makerspaces are a new kind of learning lab, allowing students to guide themselves through hands-on projects. Labs include 3-D printers, laser cutters, circuitry, crafting, building and other equipment. The maker movement builds skills and dispositions like collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity. This new learning brings with it a new mindse twhere failures are embraced and perseverance is valued.

Advanced Placement Courses (AP)

Brookville Area High School offers students the ability to pursue higher level course work in preparation for a post-secondary education. Advanced Placement courses develop skills needed in college, make students more competitive when applying to colleges and universities, and can provide college credits. AP courses include AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Spanish, AP German, AP History, AP English Literature, and AP English Language. EITC monies support these courses and their summative exams.

Artist in Residence

Artists in residence work with students and classes on long term projects in various medium. Students have the opportunity to exercise creative control over their work while the artist in residence mentors and facilitates. Such programs often leave a permanent mark on the school, as in the case of tile projects displayed at Hickory Grove Elementary.

Digital Arts

Digital arts funding assists teachers in three distinct areas: digital, three dimensional arts including sculpture, and two dimensional arts including graphic design and painting. New equipment assisting in this area would include 3-D rendering software and large format printers. Digital arts funding can also support field trips to museums such as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, The Phipps Conservatory and The Smithsonian.