Coplin gives update on Schools Foundation, plans for the future

Demopolis Rotarians went back to school Wednesday.

Ashley Coplin, executive director of the Demopolis City Schools Foundation, gave a short talk to the club, bringing members up to date on how the Foundation is doing and what is planned for the spring.

Then Coplin invited the Rotarians seated at each table to use the manipulatives that had been purchased with previous teacher grant funding. They used wooden sticks and ping pong balls, magnetic squares and triangles, tiny interlocking shapes and plastic funnels and tubes to create fanciful designs.

The Foundation, started in 1993, has awarded $1.3 million in grants to teachers since its beginning. The competitive process encourages teachers to write grants which then are evaluated by an eight-member committee and selected by the 33-member Foundation board of directors.

The largest grant awarded in the fall of 2021 was $15,200 to design and construct a drone to compete against other high schools.

The non-profit organization strives to promote a united effort in providing support for Demopolis public schools. Organizers also try to build continuity in the grants its awards so that they build from elementary through high school.

The Foundation Endowment Fund now tops $1.5 million. The interest from the endowment is used to help pay for the grants awarded each spring and fall, said Coplin.

The DCSF continues to build its endowment. This spring, said the director, the special needs students in the city schools will showcase their work at an art exhibit. The event has a two-fold purpose in highlighting the talents of the special needs children and in raising money for the Foundation.

Tiger Court, a fund-raiser featuring engraved pavers for a courtyard at the high school, was constructed some 15 years ago. The Foundation is looking to bring that back and encourage more supporters to purchase pavers.