Stretching the school budget
<p>SHAWN GUST/Press Rachael Rager, a sixth grade student at Garwood Elementary School, laughs with classmates Monday while working on an art project. The class is taught by Laura Spurway who was one of 10 educators in Kootenai County who have raised funds for classroom projects throughout the county.</p>
<p>SHAWN GUST/Press Skyler White works on colorizing his illusion art project with items provided through recent fundraising efforts by area teachers.</p>
GARWOOD - Ryan Cawley dug creating optical illusion art on Monday.
"It makes your hand look like it's popping out of the paper," the sixth-grader at Garwood Elementary said of the three-dimensional effect.
The project in Laura Spurway'sclass, among others, was made possible by funding for the supplies obtained by the teacher through the nonprofitDonorsChoose.org.
Spurway is among 10 teachers in Kootenai County who have raised more than $6,000 this year to fund 19 classroom projects.
With school funding limited, Spurway said the nonprofit has allowed her students to do projects they otherwise wouldn't be able to do.
"My class is being supported by people I've never met," she said of donors across the country.
The nonprofit connects donors with public school teachers needing classroom materials. Donors can choose a specific subject or project to benefit.
"The funding allows the students to have more hands-on opportunities," Spurway said. "Without the budget to obtain a full-time art teacher, we must continue to enhance kids' experiences in art. Having opportunities to do art often in a classroom fosters creativity and originality."
Spurway said many students' families can't afford to buy art supplies, in addition to regular classroom supplies, to bring to school.
She said students respect the donated materials for the school's Grizzly Art Closet, named after the school's mascot.
"I heard one of the students say, 'Those are donated materials. Put them back where they go,'" Spurway said.
Sixth-grader Camryn Buck said she and other students appreciate being able to expand on their art creativity with the supplies.
"I really enjoy drawing with a lot of colors," she said.
Local Horace Mann Insurance agent Camy Popiel has been spreading the word about the nonprofit among teachers she meets while doing her job in schools. Horace Mann has contributed $1.3 million to school projects nationwide through DonorsChoose.org since February 2011.
Full-time public school teachers, nurses and counselors can participate in the program.
"Sometimes teachers are hesitant to try it because it's something new, but once they get past the initial fear, it's easy," Popiel said.