Southern Idaho schools receive INL grants for K-12 projects

Idaho National Laboratory has awarded nearly $100,000 in grants to teachers across the state to improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in grades K-12.

Twenty of the grants, which will pay for good stuff like classroom equipment, materials and professional development projects, went to southern Idaho teachers.

Kuna Middle School was one of two recipients of a special grant — a $10,000 “Science Laboratory Grants” to build or upgrade a chemistry or physical science laboratory

Here are the grant recipients in our area:

Boise:

-Sue Peck, Liberty Elementary School, $1,945 to purchase materials for students to build and tend a “Liberty Garden”
-Chris Taylor, Liberty Elementary School, $403 to purchase kits for students to design, construct, test and analyze model rockets
-Brandon Hampton, Les Bois Junior High, $2,000 to buy tools to upgrade the school’s technology and engineering laboratory
-Linda Stokes, Collister Elementary School, $2,000 for materials to build roller coasters, mouse trap cars and bridges to enhance engineering and math instruction
-Richard Whittaker, Collister Elementary School, $960 for a hands-on study of rocketry and flight
-Kenneth Hosier, St. Ambrose Christian High School, $1,970 to buy light boxes and optic sets for physics experiments
-Teresa Reeves, Adams Elementary School, $1,000 to participate in the Idaho SySTEMic professional development initiative to encourage STEM interest and literacy

Eagle:

-Alison Ruoff, Eagle Hills Elementary School, $2,000 to purchase interactive technology equipment to improve math, science and reading skills

Meridian:

-Joseph Wax, Rocky Mountain High School, $1,992 to buy eight digital logic boards for students to learn how to design, prototype and test circuits        
-Coleen Phelps, Rocky Mountain High School, $1,980.45 to purchase Pasport Probeware for inquiry-based instruction on energy transfer and alternative energy
-Tanya Gabrielson, Centennial High School, $1,959.95 for robot packs and software to teach students robotics and programming skills
-Jeremy Whitman, Meridian Academy, $2,000 for materials and tools to design and create water-conserving landscaping for the Meridian School District
-Cyndi Gallas, Lowell Scott Middle School, $2,000 to purchase a set of radio frequency clickers to help improve students' math skills

Nampa:

-Amy Vitek, Nampa Christian Middle School, $1,994 for “360 Degrees of Bee Keeping,” a project involving the biology and keeping of honey bees
-Monique Gafford, Lone Star Middle School, $1,805 to buy lab equipment for earth science experiments and analysis

Funding for the grants comes from Battelle Energy Alliance, which operates INL for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Invitation to a film and Nepali dinner

Celebrate World Refugee Month with the International Rescue Committee. The evening begins with a screening of the documentary “Neither Here Nor There,” about a Bosnian widow living with her family in middle America, searching for home.  

Film at 5 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 6, First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2201 W. Woodlawn Ave., Boise. Tickets: film $12, dinner $10.

Tickets and RSVP: Keziah Sullivan, keziah.sullivan@theIRC.org.

Nearly 6,000 Idaho tax payers used free tax help program

The annual free tax help program, in which trained volunteers help seniors, low income Idahoans and others fill out their tax returns, brought in 5,946 clients this year.

The project returned close to $8 million dollars to the state through benefits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, say United Way officials.

United Way partnered with the Bank of America and Idaho State Treasurer Ron Crane to provide the program.
Because there was no tax-filing stimulus package this year, the total number of returns filed was down by 20 percent, but the total amount collected in federal tax refunds increased by 12 percent in the Treasure Valley for a total of $7.7 million.  

Of that amount, nearly $2 million was claimed Earned Income Tax Credit dollars.  

Pushing the "nonprofit" idea a bit...but affordable transportation is important....

ValleyRide low-cost, summer youth bus passes on sale today

If you’re between the ages of 6 and 18, riding ValleyRide buses this summer can be an inexpensive way to get around the Treasure Valley.

A “My Ride” three-month summer pass, which goes on sale Friday, is $24, and good for unlimited rides on all ValleyRide buses during June, July and August. This represents a huge savings, since the regular cost of a three-month student pass is $90. Children younger than six can ride the bus free.

You can get your pass at ValleyRide pass outlets, including Albertsons stores in Boise, Caldwell and Nampa, the WinCo stores in Eagle and on Front Street in Boise, the ACHD Commuteride Office at the corner of Fairview and Curtis in Boise, and the Valley Regional Transit office, 830 N. Main St. in Meridian.

For more info: 345-RIDE (7433).
ValleyRide operates bus routes in Boise, Garden City, Nampa and Caldwell and intercounty service between Ada and Canyon counties. More information about the bus services offered is available on Valley Ride's website.