CPEF Grants for the Fall 2025 School Year

The CPEF Allocations Committee approved grants totaling $3,334.00 to be used in the Cortland School District for the Fall 2025 school year.

The grants that were approved are as follows:

$70.00  for a whiteboard with grid lines for 9th grade Applied Algebra class.
Grant written by Bridget Dutcher/ supported by Janesa Cornish, Cortland Sr. High School

$836.00 for 2 keyboards with pedals for the new piano class.
Grant written by Sharon Phetteplace/ supported by Janesa Cornish, Cortland Jr/Sr High School

$998.00 for a desktop Wind Tunnel/Robot Head/STEM Electric Power and Upgrade Pack for Makerspace and Tech Dept.
Grant written by Jon Herr/ supported by Kristen Cinquanti, Cortland Jr/Sr High School

$750.00 for a collection of Trauma Informed Books for Randall Middle School 
Grant written by Erin Wilson and Heidi Effinger/ supported by Juli Quinn

$180.00 for Calming Resources for the Art Room at Smith Intermediate School
Grant written by Elizabeth Moshkowski/ supported by Jen Block

$500.00 for supplies needed for BOCES Recycling Shed Construction along with financial support from Homer HS, Tompkins Trust Company and OCM  BOCES administration.
Grant written by Eric Lott/ supported by Janesa Cornish, BOCES Construction Technology class

Several staff members were very excited about the funds to be allocated to projects. Elizabeth Moshkowski stated that “The Smith Art Studio will be provided the opportunity to have more diverse resources available in their calming area for students who are dysregulated or sad. Items including noise canceling headphones, weighted objects, sand timers, as well as visual and tactile manipulatives will all be available for students to use in order to reset their nervous system or mind and return back to learning. The hope and dream is to keep students in the classroom when upset and provide them methods to reset without disrupting instruction and learning.”

Jonathan Herr commented that “the items purchased for the Jr-Sr High Makerspace will be used to incorporate new and exciting elements of computer science for students grades 7-12. There is a AI-enabled 3D designable and printable head with a series of trainable AI parts. Students can make a robot head that recognizes voices and interacts with them via Microsoft's Cognitive AI service. We can train the AI to recognize shapes and people, and truly gain a better appreciation for the power of machine learning and algorithmic processes. We also are looking to get a kit to upgrade the physical and coding capability of the electric skateboard from the previous cycle. The advanced motor and upgrade pack will allow for greater speeds, traction, and (more importantly) a better ability to code its movement. With this we can better attach Arduino boards to allow for data collection, include more specific code that allows for better speed control and turning, and even attack other compatible robots by data port to allow them to play together.”

Librarian Erin Wilson and Randall Social Worker Heidi Effinger are working together to create a collection of fiction books that will be housed in the Social Worker’s office. “We'll use her knowledge of the traumas faced by Randall students and my knowledge of books to choose titles that reflect students' lives and help them process their experiences."

Every staff member involved is very excited and thankful to receive a CPEF Grant.