Community Donations Add Up

Community members continue to rally around the Springs School District, with the school board voting on Monday to accept donations of money and equipment totaling more than $13,700.

According to figures provided by the district, Springs has received nearly $30,000 in grants and donations to date during this school year.

The Anna Mirabai Lytton Fund donated $5,000 for a recent poetry and book-making project for students in the seventh and eighth grades. The fund was established following Anna Lytton’s death in June of 2013 while riding a bicycle. She was 14 years old and had been a student at the Springs School.

Colleen McGowan, a Springs art teacher, said at the board meeting that the students had “an amazing experience exploring art and poetry” through the donation from the fund. “Anna was a great poet herself,” Ms. McGowan said.

The Greater East Hampton Education Foundation donated $1,950 for the Springs School’s visiting science program, and the Kiwanis Club donated $750 for Springs community members who are participating in the Special Olympics.

Springs received lacrosse equipment valued at $844 from a new booster club supporting the fifth and sixth-grade lacrosse program.

The PTA donated $3,317 for a seventh-grade field trip and close to $1,900 for a fourth-grade field trip.

Liz Mendelman, the school board president, thanked the organization. “The PTA has been on a roll lately,” she said. “We’re so appreciative of everything you do.”

Lisa Matz, the PTA president, also announced the results of the organization’s second Mystery Art Sale at Ashawagh Hall. About $39,500 was raised through the four-day event. The school board has not yet formally accepted any donations from this year’s sale. At the meeting, the PTA also announced a $1,000 donation to the Springs Improvement Society as a gesture of appreciation for the society’s support of Springs students. The society oversees Ashawagh Hall.