Decatur City Schools Foundation

Cell phones, iPads and Netbooks; these are familiar terms in today’s world, especially among students. Today’s generation of students has grown up with the Internet as their companion and technology as go-to entertainment. However, the question is being asked more often today than ever before: Is technology a tool or a distraction when used in the classroom?  We caught up with Decatur City Schools Technology Director Kathy Rains to get her opinion on the importance of technology in our schools, and how it is changing the face of education every day. DCSF: What are your thoughts on the use of technology in education? How is it changing how things are done in the classroom? KR: The promise of positive outcomes for technology use in the classroom is great. Used as an instructional tool by teachers, technology can make instruction engaging and can gain a student’s attention like nothing else and keep a student focused on instruction for longer periods of time. Used as a pr...

We want you to get to know us a little better. We are doing a series on our Staff and eventually our Board, so you can get a glimpse behind the scenes here at the Decatur City Schools Foundation. Today I bring you Part I of our Meet Our Staff series. Our newest Foundation employee is Stevi Price, who began working here in March of 2013.  Hello, my name is Stevi Price, Fund Development Assistant at the Decatur City Schools Foundation. After growing up in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Roll Tide), I decided to attend the University of Alabama for my freshman year and then possibly venture off to another major university. However, after meeting the love of my life, I stayed and soaked up every minute. I received my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with a concentration of Marketing in 2006. Afterward, I married Decatur native and love of my life, Brandon Price, and we now have two beautiful children, Kennedy and JR. Each day is new and exciting (if you’re a parent, you...

Have you ever wondered why an education foundation is important? As you can see from the above graphic, education is the basis for which students, and therefore communities, thrive. The Foundation provides an opportunity for all citizens to be involved in our children's education. The Decatur City Schools Foundation distributes funds for special projects and programs that provide our students with educational opportunities above and beyond the standard curriculum. We provide an ongoing and dependable funding source for those resources and programs not covered by budget dollars.  The Foundation began with a group of Decatur citizens who were committed to enhance learning and improve education. Through the Foundation, local individuals and businesses, seeking to deal proactively with school budget limitations, support our children's exciting academic enrichment programs that would otherwise not be available or affordable for our students. Since the start of the Founda...

This poem is a good reminder that having high expectations of our students and schools is so very important. When our standards are low, we run the risk of falling short. *This is from THE OSGOOD FILE, CBS News Radio. The Pretty Good Student There once was a pretty good student Who sat in a pretty good class, And was taught by a pretty good teacher Who always let pretty good pass. He wasn't terrific at reading; He wasn't a wizard at math. But for him education was leading Straight down a pretty good path. He didn't find school too exciting, But he wanted to do pretty well. And he did have some trouble with writing, And nobody had taught him to spell. When doing arithmetic problems Pretty good was regarded as fine. Five and five need not always add up to be ten; A pretty good answer was nine. The pretty good student was happy With the standards that were set. And nobody thought it was savvy If his answers were not quite correct. The pretty goo...

You've heard about Black Friday. You know about Cyber Monday. But have you heard about Giving Tuesday?  It's a day to take a break from consumerism and give back.  It's simple: Find a way to help someone or do something for another on December 3, 2013. Then share your act of generosity and be a part of the national celebration.  Here at the Foundation, we are hoping you will join in on the #givingtuesday action and help meet local classroom needs through our Fund-a-Need program. To help a teacher this holiday season, simply click HERE and browse through available needs.  

Our annual City Saver card sale is underway! These 15 money-saving deals will be well worth your $10, and the card can be used through August 2014. The cards will only be available through the end of this week, so don't delay! Cards can be requested through Decatur City Schools students and families.  Profits from the City Saver card sale will go to the DCS Foundation, which exists to enhance educational excellence for Decatur City Schools. See www.decaturcsf.org to learn more about what we do. 

The Decatur City Schools Foundation provides financial support for innovative educational programs that go above and beyond the standard curriculum. Since 1992, the Foundation has given more than $2 million in funding to Decatur City Schools.  The Foundation began with a group of Decatur citizens who were committed to enhance learning and improve education. Through the Foundation, local individuals and businesses, seeking to deal proactively with school budget limitations, support our children's exciting academic enrichment programs that would otherwise not be available or affordable for our students. DCSF Quick Facts DCSF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Contributions to DCSF are tax deductible according to IRS regulations DCSF is governed by a Board of Directors Operations and initiatives of the Foundation are funded through contributions from businesses, individuals, events and grants