The Grant

I wrote a grant application for funding from the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts. I began contacting stores that sold ceramic tile, and we collected tons of tile. Literally tons. My workouts began to consist of schlepping carloads of sample tile out of a store, loading my car, driving to school, unloading onto my cart, and schlepping the samples to my classroom. My storeroom. Another teacher's classroom and storeroom.

That began in late August 2007.

In December, we were notified that we our grant proposal was accepted and would be funded. $4000. NICE! But, without the check in hand, there wasn't much to do. So I continued with my normal classwork.

The check arrived in May 2008. Mid-May. Maybe two or three weeks before exams. With a final report due before August 1. I called VICA and discussed the situation. They agreed that the best course of action would be for me to purchase the materials and supplies, write the final report and submit it (with receipts) by 8/1/08, and then complete the project during the 2008-09 school year.

So I went down to one of the local tile and flooring stores and worked with them - how much tile, what colors, what equipment, and exactly what process to follow for prepping the wall and then tiling it. (Thank you Fernando!!!!! My angel consultant!)

I made sure I spent money at all the businesses who had donated tile. My wonderful husband helped me schlep boxes and boxes of brightly colored tile to my classroom. And there it sat all summer. Until the next school year.