A $50,000 state grant was presented to Menands School officials during an Oct. 9 ceremony at the school.
The funding, secured by Assemblyman Phil Steck, will provide for increased family engagement and community activities, school officials said.
“These funds will allow us to continue growing our efforts to connect, educate and empower our Menands families. Specifically, they will help sustain the important work of our parent liaison. Additionally, the funding will support school and community events that celebrate the rich culture of our school,” said Superintendent Jennifer Cannavo.
The funding will also support family-centered events, such as Literacy Night and STEM Night, as well as parent workshops on pertinent topics such as social media use, gaming and vaping.
“We believe at Menands that when schools and families work together, students thrive. Assemblyman Steck’s continued commitment to this belief — and to ensuring that Menands families have the tools, resources and opportunities to be active partners in education — truly strengthens the foundation of our community. We thank him for the continued support,” Cannavo added.
Steck, a longtime supporter of the district, said he comes from a family of educators and has long valued the role of educators in the community.
“Strong schools make strong communities, and I am committed to continuing to support districts like Menands that are investing in both student learning and family engagement,” he said.
During the event—which was attended by Board of Education members, PTA representatives and Menands Mayor Brian Marsh—Steck also presented symbolic checks for other recent initiatives he secured state funding for. Those projects include paving the school’s parking lot and anti-bullying measures.