By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — The Board of Education took no vote last week on whether to approve a gift to Staples High School’s Inclusion and Diversity through Education and Awareness Club.

Apparently, it never had to.

Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice told the school board last month, in a memo and at its May 15 meeting, the gift  to IDEA was for $3,000, triggering a board policy that required approval for any gift over $2,000.

There were questions from board members about the appropriateness of an award to a student or club from an outside source and the matter was postponed.

Last Monday, Scarice said there was a misunderstanding and the gift, in fact, was for $1,000.

“We thought it was $3 [thousand] and that is why I brought it to the board,” Scarice said.

Shonda Smith, director of communications for Riley’s Way Foundation, confirmed in an email the exact amount requested by Leigh Foran, the club’s co-president, was $973 and the amount was rounded up to $1,000.

When the error was discovered, the matter technically did not have to be put back on the board agenda, but Scarice said he asked that it be included for informational purposes.

“I just say congratulations to Leigh [Foran] on the ‘Call for Kindness’ fellowship,” said board member Kevin Christie.

Christie said he loved reading about IDEA and its aspirations. If there had been a vote, Christie said it would come with gratitude and appreciation to Riley’s Way for its work and scholarships.

The organization’s mission is to promote kindness.

The award will help the club focus on teaching young children at preschools and libraries about sensitive topics related to diversity, identity, empathy and respect, with the goal of making Westport a more inclusive town.

The foundation’s award to IDEA is one of 40 projects nationally to receive grants this year. In addition to funding, the award includes a year-long leadership development fellowship, one-on-one, networking and an in-person retreat.

Freelance writer Linda Conner Lambeck, a reporter for more than four decades at the Connecticut Post and other Hearst publications, is a member of the Education Writers Association.