Initiative funding STEAM program at Sanibel school
The Sanibel School Fund recently launched a new campaign to support the island school.
The Sponsor A Sanibel School STEAM Student is intended to help keep the STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics — program in operation at The Sanibel School, as well as provide a chance for the island community to better connect with the school’s community.
Sanibel School Fund President Dorothy Plumb reported that the school is public, part of the School District of Lee County, so enrichment programs like STEAM are 100% community funded. However, the organization fell short the last two years in its fundraising goals to sustain the STEAM program.
She continued that they raise most of the funding with their annual Blue Ribbon Golf Classic & Gala. While last year’s event was successful, it did not meet the needs for the minimal operating budget.
“It was about a $20,000 gap. So we are trying to make up for some of the deficit in enrichment programming with this initiative,” Plumb said. “Any gap that we see in fundraising is sort of a jeopardy to the implementation and sustainability of the programming and right now, notably, STEAM.”
Additionally, the campaign aims to strengthen the connection between the school and community.
“It is a financial funding plea. But also, it is a reintroduction of The Sanibel School to our island community, our residents and businesses,” she said. “The school really is a gem of the island.”
For the campaign, donations are sought to sponsor a STEAM student.
“Five hundred and seventy dollars is what it costs for one Sanibel school student to receive a STEAM education for one academic year,” Plumb said, noting that the $570 also covers the teacher’s salary.
“They help to fund a full-time STEAM teacher,” she added.
The donation funds a year’s worth of supplies for the STEAM lab, which receives 250 elementary student visits per week and 50 middle school visits per day — a total of 500 visits every week.
“We’re talking hammers, screwdrivers for hands-on building, operating and implementing. This is a project-based classroom,” Plumb said. “Also, the technology for the lab.”
In addition, STEAM students take frequent field trips to island partner organizations, like the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and Sanibel Sea School.
“It ensures that we continue to have community engagement,” she said.
Plumb explained that the organization is also looking to the future, with the hopes of expanding the enrichment programming into others areas, such as environmental, agricultural and foreign languages.
“While our goals and ideas are growing, our fundraising is not,” she said.
Those who sponsor a student will receive a personalized letter from a STEAM student thanking them for their support, along with a student-created and personalized STEAM token of appreciation.
Plumb noted that they have received donations of $50 up to sponsorships for two students.
“We certainly welcome any dollar amount,” she said.
To donate or for more information, visit www.sanibelschoolfund.org.
For questions, visit online or contact the Sanibel School Fund at thesanibelschoolfund@gmail.com.
The Sanibel School is at 3840 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email