Fastrac Grant Means Genuine Student Learning Experiences

March 12, 2010 Contributor

OSWEGO, NY – Oswego students will be on the fast track thanks to the generosity of Fastrac Markets.

Recently, Fastrac Markets conducted its “2009-2010 Funding the Classroom” grant process and the Oswego High School along with Frederick Leighton Elementary School were beneficiaries of this community support program.

Fastrac director of public relations Jeff Szkolnik recently presented Oswego Superintendent of Schools’ Bill Crist with a check for $10,600 as Fastrac Markets awarded a grant to the district. Also present for the acceptance were OCSD director of grants and partnerships Linda Doty (left) and assistant superintendent for instruction and curriculum Cathy Chamberlain.
Fastrac director of public relations Jeff Szkolnik recently presented Oswego Superintendent of Schools’ Bill Crist with a check for $10,600 as Fastrac Markets awarded a grant to the district. Also present for the acceptance were OCSD director of grants and partnerships Linda Doty (left) and assistant superintendent for instruction and curriculum Cathy Chamberlain.

Jeff  Szkolnik, Fastrac director of public relations, said, “We are giving Oswego $10,600. Oswego was one of six recipients of this grant program that Fastrac annually conducts. Oswego requested funding for distance learning  and video conferencing equipment and this will allow for the purchasing of the learning tools.”

Continuing Szkolnik said, “We solicited grant applications within our market area where we have 45 stores throughout New York State. We have conducted this program for eight years. This year we received 40 applications and six schools received grants. We handed out $45,000 and as you can see Oswego is getting a good chunk of that.”

Szkolnik noted that the grant reviewers felt that the technology equipment that Oswego was seeking was important.

Explaining the grant award he said, ”Many schools were asking for books and things of that nature. However in this day and age technology changes are going to drive the market. Oswego asked for video conferencing equipment and we felt this was going to touch a lot of different classrooms and not just one. Conferencing classrooms together and long distance learning are where we felt technology needed to go.”

Oswego students are experiencing the opportunity to share what they have learned with students from throughout the world.

At the same time the local youngsters are also talking with, viewing and enjoying what is happening in places that they might never have to opportunity to visit.

Relationships between various classes are being formed and the learning experienced is enhanced.

Superintendent of Schools Bill Crist thanked the generosity of Fastrac.

He said, ”I appreciate what this grant will do for our students. The involvement of Fastrac in presenting this to us means that learning will be enhanced for our students. This video conferencing between students will create positive, learning relationships.”

Oswego City School District Director of Grants and Partnerships Linda Doty said, “This is a wonderful grant. This is an opportunity that will allow our students to travel the world from their classrooms. The distance learning equipment funded through the Fastrac grant will increase the students’ ability to learn more through experiences shared across the globe. We have to thank Fastrac Markets for the opportunity they have provided our students and for their generous gift. “

Oswego was one of six school districts receiving a Fastrac grant with the others being Camden, Illion, North Syracuse, Utica, and Amsterdam. missing or outdated ad config

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