Willard R. Daggett, President, International Center for Leadership in Education said in a recent speech “In a world in which science and engineering will become the cornerstone of what is needed to know and be able to do in the 21st century, the U.S. is being outpaced dramatically by India, China, and Eastern Europe. The decline of U.S. enrollment in science and engineering combined with the fact that scientists and engineers will be even more coveted in the work force in the coming years places the U.S. at a great disadvantage as a nation.” Bachelor’s degrees in science and engineering make up sixty percent of the total degrees earned in China. Five percent of the degrees earned in the United States last year were in science and engineering. Rhinebeck Science Foundation will support opportunities to connect science and technology with the things our children experience every day – the arts, athletics, communications, research and the environment. With scientific knowledge, our students will learn to think critically and interpret information rather than rely on others as “the experts.”

The mission of the Rhinebeck Science Foundation is to grant awards for programs that impact the maximum number of children. Our children need a strong grounding in the sciences in order to be successful in a future where scientific and technological changes will be moving faster than we can imagine.

It is the children of today who will be steering the future of the United States in a global economy. Through the help of foundations like the Rhinebeck Science Foundation, those same children will have the ability to provide innovative leadership internationally. This is an investment in our community for today and our country for the future.

Community supported foundations that augment the public school budget are an increasingly popular way for local businesses to support their community’s public schools. It is an especially effective way of getting the community involved in enhancing public education. Better schools mean more than just smarter kids. Better schools also mean a stronger and more vibrant community, a richer pool of employees for local businesses and the opportunity for children to make a greater contribution toward solving some of the big science and technology problems that we face nationally and globally.

Our children need to be problem solvers. This requires an ability to use their imaginations to think beyond the textbook. Art, literature, theater and music all help to stimulate the imagination. Imaginative minds are minds that can envision new ways of doing things. The Rhinebeck Science Foundation believes in a creative approach to learning the sciences. Productivity in a global marketplace requires a workforce, not only of scientists, engineers and mathematicians, but also of journalists, teachers and artists. The arts and sciences are very much intertwined.

Our goal, as a 501(c)(3), is to create a one million dollar private endowment for public education in the Rhinebeck Central Schools. From that endowment, we will target investing 5% annually on specific curriculum based projects involving science, math and technology. The balance of the funds (the endowment) will be invested through a national investment firm in order to grow the money available and keep a fund to support all students in the Rhinebeck School district in perpetuity.

It is ultimately up to the teachers and administrators of the Rhinebeck Central School District to apply to the Foundation for grants for specific programs. However, the School District, Staff and Rhinebeck Science Foundation have worked very closely to brainstorm and research appropriate programs for funding. Ideas are being generated through discussions with local educational facilities and the school district. The Rhinebeck Science Foundation continues to research potential “partners” for the Rhinebeck Schools through local and national programs such as LEGO Education, IBM Engineering programs, and Project Lead the Way.

To be considered for funding, all programs, equipment purchases and professional development must show a direct impact on students in the classroom. The Foundation places a high priority on programs that present opportunities to as many students as possible and works to ensure continuity in learning between the elementary, intermediate and high schools. The Foundation will award grants to promote thematic, hands-on math, science and technology programs where learning is inquiry-based and happens through exploration. Any project that incorporates the use of the sciences, mathematical theory, and/or technology will be considered. Applications for art, literature, theatre and music programs that are grounded in the sciences will also be included

Funding of programs within the Rhinebeck Central School District is a collaborative process between Rhinebeck Science Foundation and the Rhinebeck schools. Applications for funding are first approved by the Rhinebeck Central School District’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction, building Principal and District Superintendent prior to being presented to the Foundation. Our schools, like all public schools in the state, must meet the curriculum guidelines standards set by New York state. In addition to meeting our guidelines, and being supported by the teachers, any programs funded by the Foundation must also meet the state’s requirements. The district’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Superintendent of Schools help the Foundation ensure that we navigate this process properly. Once applications are submitted, the Grant Review Committee will read all applications and make recommendations to the Executive Board of the Foundation. The committee will consist of Board members and area experts in the sciences whose desire is to further the goals of RSF. We will have a standing group of qualified experts in relevant fields who will be called on to advise the committee on a case-by-case basis. After an application is approved, the Rhinebeck Science Foundation requires a timely accounting of all funds spent both during and at the conclusion of the program. The applicant must also provide a program evaluation at the completion of the program (or school year) to determine the effectiveness of the program.

While not formally affiliated with these groups, these organizations are dedicated to making our good schools great. Rhinebeck Science Foundation is looking forward to a collaborative relationship with each organization in order to ensure that our efforts are complimentary.

The Rhinebeck Science Foundation’s portfolio is held at an internationally recognized Wall Street Investment firm with broad experience in handling investments for non-profit organizations. The portfolio manager invests the Foundation's endowment while the Foundation's Finance Committee provides overall investment strategy and direction. The Finance Committee consists of RSF board members as well as business professionals with relevant experience. Rhinebeck Science Foundation limits access to its account to the President and Treasurer of the Executive Board. Any expenditure over $500 must be approved and co-signed by the President and Treasurer of the Board.

When children can touch and feel the work they are doing, they become inspired to try new things and different methods. They learn to understand why a toothpick bridge will collapse in a strong wind, why a pumpkin launched 25 yards will hit it’s target every time or how the vibration of a steel drum is interpreted in the eardrum.

The goal is to empower the students to take responsibility for their learning. When teachers can motivate students to explore the answers to their questions, interdisciplinary education becomes more seamless as students discover how to link concepts they have learned from other subjects.

Of course, our hope is that every household in the school district will be inspired to help us reach our goal of one million dollars. It is the support of our community that will help us seek additional funding from private foundations, corporations and government grants.