Rivermont Collegiate in Bettendorf is preparing to raise money for a new building and it's hoping a foundation based in Brooklyn New York will help. So last week, it hosted a site visit by John Gulla, executive director of the Edward E. Ford Foundation.
He says the foundation supports "independent schools" like Rivermont, with grants of up to 100,000 dollars, that must be matched by local fundraising.
"Over the 60 years we have made grants in excess of 125 million dollars to about 800 different schools, that have brought some 2,000 or 2,100 different proposals to us."
Rivermont is planning to build a 6 million dollar "steam center" - for classes that would integrate science, techology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.
Gulla says independent schools can be more "nimble" than public schools, and act as "laboratories" for new ideas.
"Independent schools have freedoms that are different. They're covenental in many ways and there is an opportunity I think for independent schools to pursue ideas in ways that sometimes can benefit the larger world of education."
Rivermont will have to submit its application by April lst, then the foundation board will make a decision on its latest grant applications by June.
