Education Foundation holds annual meeting

DECATUR — Decatur Education Foundation members discussed scholarship funds at their annual meeting on Monday afternoon.

President, Dr. C.L. Abercrombie, reported the foundation traditionally awards 10 scholarships annually, but because the school felt there was a lack of qualified applicants, only six scholarships were awarded in 2010. Only two of those scholarships have been redeemed so far, but students have until May of 2011 to redeem the scholarships, he explained.

Students must provide proof of enrollment and attendance before the scholarships are sent directly to the college, Abercrombie said. In 2009, only five of the 10 scholarships awarded were redeemed, he said.

Foundation members voted to affirm the six scholarships that were awarded in 2010.

The foundation is in need of more donations to help fund this year’s scholarships, Abercrombie said.

Superintendent Larry Ben said that a few issues with the way scholarships were handled in the past came up during an audit, and that in the future the school would be referring anyone who wished to make a donation for scholarships to the Decatur Education Foundation.

Ben also told the foundation members they should be aware that parents who designate scholarship funds for their own children could cause themselves problems with the Internal Revenue Service.

Foundation members discussed the issue and decided to address the problem if it arose. The foundation currently relies on an independent scholarship committee to pick scholarship recipients, Adam McGhee explained.

In other business, foundation members voted to affirm the purchase of a thank-you plaque for superintendent LeRoy Ortman, who returned to retirement in July, after helping the school get on solid financial ground.

They also voted to affirm the purchase of two pianos. One was purchased for the elementary school and the other was purchased for the high school band, using money donated specifically for that purpose.