With education funding being in a critical state in Jackson and many schools seeing cuts in their budgets, local school districts are forced to make up for the loss of those funds.

The Oxford School District Foundation recently awarded $51,000 in grants to 28 teachers to use in their classrooms.

The teachers can use the funds to help create new and inventive programs or continue to help fund existing, successful activities.

The largest grant was $17,000 and went to the OSD’s new STEM program, which will help local students compete in growing technology fields.

Lafayette County School District has recently kicked up efforts for fundraising through its Lafayette County School District’s Endowment Fund for Education. Both schools have raised funds through various projects including car tags, where community members can purchase a car tag representing their school district. About $24 of each tag goes back into the schools.

All the funds raised through both foundations stay in the classrooms and the district.

Lafayette County’s foundation will use funds to build a new playground at the upper elementary school.

Legislators often seemingly create unfunded mandates for schools and funding for our schools is weakening. We commend the parents and concerned residents in our community for stepping up to the plate and helping to bring needed equipment, supplies and new programs to our schools, and helping to keep our local schools some of the best in the state.