To the editor:

On Nov. 13th, the Ed Op Fund for LPCSD met to consider the grant applications received by our October deadline. For the first time, we combined staff and student applications into one window and were delighted to receive many excellent initiatives for review. We are pleased to announce that the following applications were successful in this round.

1. Approval for student Kevin Bonet’s initiative for a new school store cart for the LPMHS as part of his entrepreneurship project. The cart will help organize the school “swag” more efficiently and increase the mobility of the merchandise around the school.

2. Faculty member Keith Clark’s application to fund the 8th-grade “RiverTrail” day of events on the rail trail between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. The day involves activities across the curriculum and over 10 miles of bike riding.

3. Funding was approved to cover the costs of all LPHS senior graduation day caps and gowns. This was a project a little while in the making and we are delighted to now be able to support students from their earliest days in the district right through to their final moment of celebration.

4. We approved funds for faculty member Sam Baker’s exciting project to regenerate the School Street retaining wall next spring. The project involves the wider local community, professional services such as surveyors, engineers, ecologists and florists, and exposes students to a range of real-world experts and practical problem solving.

5. Approval to fund Community Schools Coordinator Brenden Gotham’s Spring Break “Staycation” event program. This will help ensure a wide range of activities across all age groups during spring break 2026, a true community program for our LPCSD families.

6. Funding for student Lilyan Power’s application for coin-counting machines to help the LPMHS “Penny Wars” contest. This competition is organized by the school’s National Honor Society and last year helped raise funds for the Lake Placid Thrive and Thrift store.

7. We approved a funding request from faculty member Jennifer Brooks to assist in purchasing additional specialist equipment for the 8:1:1 special education program in the LPES, to continue supporting the vital work of the staff and students in the program.

Overall, we were able to approve funds totaling $9,432.76 to help close the opportunity gaps for our students. We are only able to do this important work thanks to the kindness and generosity of our supporters — thank you again for all your continued backing of the Ed Op Fund.

We look forward to receiving more exciting grant applications in our February window (the deadline is Feb. 15th) and details for staff and students to apply for funding can be found on our website at www.edopfund.org. We wish all the LPCSD community a happy and peaceful holiday season.

Simon Shergold

On behalf of the Ed Op Fund Board