By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

HOOVER – Thirteen Hoover schools will receive more than $29,000 in grants from the Hoover City Schools Foundation for the 2016-2017 school year.

Hoover City Schools Foundation board member David Conner read the list of grant recipients at a June 13 Hoover City Board of Education meeting, noting 15 of the district’s 17 schools submitted 52 proposals totaling $80,000.

Among the district’s schools in Shelby County receiving grants are Greystone Elementary School and Spain Park High School.

Greystone Elementary is receiving a $1,848 grant titled “Makerspace: A Place Where Students Can Be Scientists, Engineers, Inventors, Problem Solvers, Artists and Builders.”

The overview of the grant states: “A recent poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the number one future trait of leaders. This project will challenge students to ‘be creative.'” The grant leader is Stacey Stocks.

Conner called SPHS grant leader Scottie Wilson and SPHS “the most prolific grant writer and the most prolific grant recipient,” as the school is receiving three grants.

The grants are as follows:

•”Full STEAM Ahead,” $2,000 – This project will use high school students to mentor elementary students in the principles and concepts of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics to better prepare them for their future educational experiences.

•”See What I Makey Makeyed,” $1,266 – This project will use high school students to mentor elementary students in the principles and concepts of physics in the area of electricity and magnetism and will introduce innovative concepts that promote creativity, innovation and collaboration.

•”Play Learn and Educate,” $1,215 – This project will provide an enhanced laboratory experience for students in Advanced Placement Computer Science classes by introducing non-traditional inquiry-based learning approaches.

Conner thanked the school board and encouraged the audience to support the Foundation through donations.

“These are exciting times in our school system for sure,” Board President Stephen Presley said.

In other business, the board:

•Approved naming the Greystone Elementary School library in memory of Dr. J. Marilyn Left, the school’s first principal.

Hoover City Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathy Murphy said Left came to the school system from Jefferson County in July 1994, served as GES principal for 11 years and retired in July 2007.

Left was awarded a number of leadership awards and other accolades.

Murphy said a number of GES teachers and outgoing principal Kathy Wheaton sent the board a letter requesting the library be named in honor of Left.

•Approved an amended employee contract to allow for appropriate payment of an employee that took on the workload of another employee that was unable to fulfill his or her duties.