ANDOVER — The schools' grant coordinator has brought in more than $1 million to the district since being hired two years ago. And it hasn't cost the School Department a dime until now.
Grant Coordinator Lisa Glickstein's $41,615 salary has been paid through the nonprofit Andover Coalition for Education since she was hired in 2006. Now the School Department will fund part of her position this upcoming school year.
"We wanted to be able to pick up the whole thing this year," School Committee Chairman Deb Silberstein said. "Unfortunately, because of budget constraints, we're not able to do that yet. The expectation is to, at some point, fully fund it as it's proven itself to be an extremely valuable position."
Glickstein's job is part time.
Silberstein said the schools will pick up .2 of the .5 position, with the remaining money coming from Andover Coalition for Education or a similar funding source.
Since being hired, Glickstein has brought in $992,000 for a Teaching American History grant that will allow history teachers to take seminars and field trips with experts. She wrote the Expanded Learning Time study grant, totaling $11,000, that will allow several of the schools to study stretching out the school day.
Superintendent Claudia Bach said it has been a help at a time when there's no money for new programs or rebuilding in the school budget.
"She has been more successful in raising funds than we had expected," Bach said. "Usually — so we were told — a grants coordination takes two years to learn what funding sources make the most sense and to actually get requests funded."
Glickstein has also helped teachers and parents with writing their own, smaller grants, editing and reviewing applications.
