By Linda Conner Lambeck

WESTPORT — A student leader of the Staples High School IDEA Club has received a $3,000 grant from the Riley’s Way Foundation.

To accept the 2023 “Call for Kindness” fellowship, however, Leigh Foran, a high school junior, needs Board of Education approval because of a policy requiring it to approve any gift to the district above $2,000.

 The board tabled the item at the end of its long business meeting earlier this month after questions were raised about any precedent being set by the district accepting gifts from outside sources.

“Isn’t it a conflict of interest with outside organizations contributing money to schools,” asked board member Dorie Hordon. “Is that a concern?”

Hordon also said she had not had time to research the funding organization or its backers.

“I have questions,” she said.

Board Vice Chairwoman Liz Heyer, meanwhile, questioned the grant going through to the student instead of the school or district.

Board Chairwoman Lee Goldstein pressed for a vote anyway, saying those opposed could simply vote no. Eventually, a majority of the panel agreed to wait.

The board routinely votes on accepting large donations from parent groups and others to support school activities and special events.

Last June, when a $5,000 donation was made through the Coleytown Elementary School PTA to purchase diverse books, Heyer questioned the appropriateness of accepting gifts for specific purposes.

 She asked if it opened the board to “political-type” influences and wondered if legal counsel should be sought.

In that case, Goldstein said she saw nothing wrong with it. The board was told the district, in consultation with the donor, was choosing the books.

The board accepted the gift with Heyer abstaining.

This time, Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice told the board it is not uncommon for teachers or other members of the school community to apply for and receive grants for specific projects. They usually aren’t more than $3,000, so do not require board approval.

The IDEA (or Inclusion and Diversity through Education and Awareness) Club, established a year ago at Staples, focuses on helping young children in the community develop inclusive mindsets. It has about 50 members. 

In addition to Foran, classmate Lindsey Price is a co-leader. Advisor is Elizabeth McVaney, a Staples social studies teacher.

Students in the club visit preschools and libraries to teach appropriate and engaging lessons about identity, empathy and respect.

Foran, in an email, said she applied for the grant because she believes the ideas of both the club and Riley’s Way align strongly. Both strive to create kinder, more inclusive communities.

Riley’s Way is a public charity founded in 2014 by MacKenzie and Ian Sandler to honor the life of their 9-year-old daughter Riley, according to spokeswoman Shonda Smith. Riley died while attending her first sleep-away camp. Ian Sandler is chief operating officer at Insight, a New York investment firm.

A nonprofit foundation was created that Smith said is funded from a variety of sources, including individual donations, board members, other foundations and grants. In 2019, the latest online tax form available, the organization had net assets of more than $3 million.

The organization sponsors Call for Kindness grants to give young leaders, age 13 through 22, across the country the skills, connections and funding needed to run social impact projects that inspire kindness and strengthen their communities. Winners receive a 12-month leadership development fellowship, one to one coaching and a startup grant of $3,000 with project support. Fellows can also apply for continuation grants.

This year, 40 students nationwide received a grant from among hundreds of applicants, according to the Riley’s Way website. Winning projects focused on a variety of topics including equity and social justice issues, building meaningful connections in schools or communities and environmental justice.

Foran said she looks forward to learning from mentors and receiving project support for IDEA as she heads into her senior year at Staples.

Foran said she has been to one leadership workshop for fellows and will attend a retreat in February to network with other fellows.

“IDEA will use the money to fund various initiatives to expand the scope of our impact and reach more communities,” Foran said.

 There are plans to create a website, so that the organization has an online presence, and to publish some of its materials that serve as resources for those teaching young children about inclusion and belonging.

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.