• File DDA

    PRINCIPLE ELEMENTS FOR FUTURE FEOFFEES’ DISTRIBUTIONS

    “In furtherance of the bequest in 1660 by William Paine who established this Trust ‘to be and remain to the benefit of the said school of Ipswich forever,’ the Trust purpose is to support the Ipswich public schools by making distributions to the Ipswich Public Schools. The educational uses of the distributed funds shall be determined by the Ipswich School Committee, for supplemental enrichment programs and uses that provide education enhancements for Ipswich public school students.”

    MISSION

    To expand educational opportunities consistent with the Ipswich Public Schools Mission which aspires to empower ALL students to be global citizens who are effective communicators, analytic problem solvers and savvy consumers of information.  Funding is intended to support programs and practices that enhance pedagogical innovation and enrich intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and cultural experiences for all learners in the Ipswich Public Schools.  

    Funding for enrichment and enhancement programs and practices is not meant to replace ongoing public financial support of education. Instead, the intent is to improve the quality and value of educational experiences and increase the scope of learning opportunities by the initiation and customization of creative educational practices. 

    To honor the original intent of the Trust, funds are not to be used for foundational budget needs such as:

    • Core academic programs 
    • Routine operational expenses such as utilities, building or grounds maintenance 
    • Regular and special education transportation 
    • Supplies and materials supporting the core curriculum
    • Or other associated costs that are fundamental for educating students 

    The School Committee is committed to honoring the legacy of William Paine’s generosity and to focus funding on those programs and practices that will have a lasting and profound influence on the educational experience of Ipswich Public Schools students.

    The Feoffees Trust’s Annual Fund Disbursement

    The amount of the Feoffees Trust’s annual funds disbursement is determined by the Feoffees’ distribution policy, which seeks to “provide a significant and relatively stable, predictable flow of funds to a supplemental budget to benefit the current generation of students while maintaining the long-term purchasing power of the principal to ensure the Trust is able to deliver equitable resources to future generations.” These funds are designed to foster and promote innovation and creativity, and provide learning opportunities for students far beyond what available public funding sources will allow.

    A member of the New Feoffees Trust formally presents the annual disbursement to the School Committee each spring. The Ipswich School Committee then determines (1) how these annual funds will be allocated between the Edmund Traverso-Robert Weatherall Innovation Grants and the William Paine Enhancement Grants, and (2) how to apportion the Innovation funds between the bi-annual spring and fall grant application cycles.

    Any remaining balance by the end of March each year will be returned to the Feoffees for reinvestment back into the Trust portfolio.  In subsequent years should the total amount of approved grants exceed the annual distribution provided by the Feoffees, some or all of the funds returned to the Trust could be made available for distribution. 

    Edmund Traverso-Robert Weatherall Innovation Grants

    Overview

    The Traverso-Weatherall Innovation Grants are awarded on a bi-annual basis, spring and fall, to current Ipswich Public Schools faculty and staff. These funds are dedicated to the pursuit of innovation in education for the benefit of all Ipswich Public Schools students. They are named in honor of Edmund Traverso and Robert Weatherall, whose diligent discovery and passionate persistence made the Feoffees funds and their benefits possible.

    Innovation Grant applications must be submitted by either an individual or team of Ipswich Public Schools faculty and staff, shall not exceed a total request of $7,500 and are restricted for a one-year term of use. One-year projects, programs, and activities are not necessarily excluded from continued funding, but must be re-submitted for future grant consideration. Grant applications and instructions are available on the district website.

    Grant submissions are expected to align with the current district vision framework, which is regularly reviewed and updated by the Superintendent and School Committee. As a resource to help ensure this district alignment, applicants are encouraged to discuss their intended grant with the Director of Teaching and Learning before proceeding through the grant process. Additionally, all grant proposals must be fully vetted and endorsed by the applicant’s building principal(s) prior to submitting the final application to the Innovation Grant Committee. Draft proposals may be sent back to educator(s) by either the Director of Teaching and Learning or the building principal(s) with recommendations for revisions.

    Grant recipients will also complete end-of-year reports which are presented as a group at the end of each grant cycle to the Ipswich School Committee. These reports are vital assessment tools to help determine the success of projects as well as to identify opportunities to extend the most impactful ideas.

    Educator(s) working alone or together may include a proposed stipend payment, in an amount not to exceed 10% of the total Innovation Grant request, for time spent preparing, implementing, and assessing the proposal beyond the contracted school day. The requested stipend amount should be included in budget numbers on the application. 

    Application Process

    Educators have two annual opportunities to apply for a Traverso-Weatherall Innovation Grant: one cycle in the spring, and a second cycle in the fall. Grant applications and instructions are available on the district website. 

    Requests should include a description of the educational opportunity, the goals and objectives of the program or activity, the number of students that will benefit from the grant, an implementation timeline, evaluation criteria, and a detailed budget. 

    Innovation Grant applications will be ranked and evaluated using the following metrics:

    • Creativity and Innovation
    • Clarity of Goals and Objectives
    • Quality and Longevity of Impact
    • Efficacy
    • Compatibility to Frameworks
    • Alignment with district vision, curriculum, and standards

    Proposals should meet as many of the following criteria as appropriate:

    • Involve as many students as possible, depending on the program and identified need
    • Stimulate creativity in or out of the classroom
    • Meet each student’s needs and increase motivation to learn
    • Encourage unique ideas
    • Enhance, enrich, or extend the educator(s’) subject, department, or grade level curriculum

    Committee Membership

    The Innovation Grants Committee is a diverse group which utilizes staggered term limits to avoid complete turnover of members in a particular year. This committee meets during each grant cycle to review and evaluate all Innovation Grant applications, votes to approve qualifying requests, and then advances them to the Ipswich School Committee for final approval. The Innovation Grants Committee membership is as follows:

    • 1 principal (elementary or secondary)
    • 2 teachers (one elementary, one secondary)
    • 1 Central Office representative
    • 1 School Committee representative
    • 1 high school student 
    • 1 at-large community representative

    William Paine Enhancement Grants

    Overview

    The William Paine Enhancement Grants are awarded on an annual basis each spring for major grant funding based upon identified district priorities, goals, initiatives, and needs. Dedicated to enhancing education for the benefit of all Ipswich Public Schools students, these funds are named in honor of William Paine, whose bequest of the Lands at Little Neck in 1660 to the Public School of Ipswich made everything possible. 

    Enhancement Grant applications may be initiated by current Ipswich Public Schools faculty and staff, but must be officially endorsed and submitted by the Superintendent on behalf of the students, faculty, administration, and staff of the Ipswich Public Schools. Building principals should also ensure that grant applications are in alignment with district and school goals before endorsing them to proceed to the Superintendent. Grant applications and instructions are available on the district website.

    Grant recipients shall also complete end-of-year reports which are presented as a group at the end of each grant cycle to the Ipswich School Committee. These reports are vital assessment tools to help determine the success of projects as well as to identify opportunities to extend the most impactful ideas.

    Staff positions may be funded by an Enhancement Grant provided that (1) positions directly support Feoffees-funded initiatives, and (2) the funding duration of any positions are defined in the initial grant proposal. Compensation for positions initially funded by Feoffee funding may be extended at the discretion of the Superintendent working in collaboration with the School Committee. Funding for said positions may come from either Feoffee funds or other revenue sources.

    Application Process

    Enhancement Grant applications must describe the educational opportunity, an implementation timeline, the short- and long-term benefits to the school district, evaluation criteria, and a detailed budget. 

    Enhancement Grant applications will be ranked and evaluated using the following metrics:

    • Creativity and Innovation
    • Clarity of Goals and Objectives
    • Quality and Longevity of Impact
    • Efficacy
    • Compatibility to Frameworks
    • Alignment with district vision, curriculum, and standards

    Proposals should meet as many of the following criteria as appropriate:

    • Involve as many students as possible, depending on the program and identified need
    • Stimulate creativity in or out of the classroom
    • Meet each student’s needs and increase motivation to learn
    • Encourage unique ideas
    • Enhance, enrich, or extend the educator(s’) subject, department, or grade level curriculum

    Committee Membership

    The Enhancement Grants Committee is a diverse group which utilizes staggered term limits to avoid complete turnover of members in a particular year. This committee meets during each grant cycle to review and evaluate all Enhancement Grant applications, votes to approve qualifying requests, and then advances them to the Ipswich School Committee for final approval. The Enhancement Grants Committee membership is as follows:

    • Superintendent (non-voting)
    • Director of Finance and Operations
    • 1 School Committee representative (non-voting)
    • 1 Feoffees Committee Representative
    • 1 Select Board representative
    • 1 Finance Committee representative
    • 1 principal (elementary or secondary)
    • 2 teachers (one elementary, one secondary)
    • 2 parents (one elementary, one secondary)
    • 1 high school student
    • 2 community business representatives 
    • 1 at-large community representative

     

    Revised: 2020

    Adopted with Revisions: April 2, 2020