Donations boost adult education programs

Whitefish School District was the recipient of several donations totaling $105,500 to benefit music and adult education programs.

An “Innovation Lab” will be created to benefit the school district’s adult education program and high school student through the support of a $75,000 donation given by an anonymous donor through the Whitefish Community Foundation.

The lab will be housed in Whitefish High School’s media arts center and will serve as the hub of the adult education program according to the school district. The goal is to offer community members and students educational and hands-on opportunities in computer science, robotics and engineering, graphic arts and web design, audio/visual recording, programming and game development, and desktop publishing.

The donation will be used to purchase hardware, software and furnishings for the lab.

Two donations the district received will benefit music programs.

The Muldown Elementary music program will benefit from a $13,000 donation given by an anonymous donor through the Whitefish Community Foundation. The donation will be used to purchase 30 iPad minis, cases and a charging cart. Kindergarten through fourth-grade students will use the technology to make recordings and videos, sharing them in digital portfolios according to a grant application by music teachers Dawn Hashley and Paul Rossi.

Orchestra students will benefit from a $10,000 donation given by an anonymous donor through the Whitefish Education Foundation. The donation will be used to purchase instruments and music storage.

Whitefish Middle School is the recipient of a $7,500 donation from the Broussard Charitable Foundation to be used for any purpose.