Who We Are
The Foundation for New Paltz Schools (formerly the NPSCD Foundation for Student Enhancement) is an independent, community-supported nonprofit led by a volunteer board of local parents and community members. We raise funds that become grants to support teachers and expand learning opportunities for students across the district.
Through teacher-led projects and student-driven ideas, we help bring new experiences, materials, and ways of learning into New Paltz public schools.
Our grants support learning throughout the New Paltz Central School District, but the Foundation is an independent organization and is not affiliated with the district.
What We Do
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We support teacher-driven ideas that go beyond what school budgets can typically provide—whether that’s new materials, hands-on experiences, or entirely new ways of approaching a subject.
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Our student microgrants fund independent research, creative work, and self-directed learning—giving high school students the opportunity to build on their classroom learning and pursue ideas that matter to them.
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We invest in resources that can be shared, reused, and built upon—helping extend their impact across schools over time.
Featured Projects
Author Visit & Workshop
Students in grades 3–5 met with local author and illustrator Kayla Miller for an author presentation and comic-making workshop, with opportunities for a small-group lunch and book signing. The experience gave students a firsthand look at narrative structure, character development, and storytelling while building a personal connection to reading and creative expression.
Proposed by Joanna Wilcox , Lenape Elementary School
Playground Gaga Ball Pit
The Foundation funded both the Gaga Ball Pit and rubber mat at Lenape Elementary School, creating a safer, more secure, and accessible space for play. The Gaga Ball Pit has quickly become a popular part of recess for students across the school.
Proposed by Grantee Jim Longbotham, Lenape Elementary School
Classroom Flex Farm
The Foundation funded a Flex Farm, a year-round indoor growing system for the horticulture classroom. The system gives students hands-on experience with sustainability and controlled-environment agriculture, expanding their learning beyond traditional courtyard gardening.
Proposed by Michael Esposito, New Paltz High School
Pitch Pine Recovery Research
Joseph Birnbaum (NPHS ‘26) spent two years researching the recovery of pitch pine following the Napanoch Point wildfire at Sam’s Point Preserve. The Foundation helped Joseph take the next step in his research with a microgrant that covered publication costs for his findings in the National High School Journal of Science.
Awarded to Joseph Birnbaum, NPHS ‘26
Want to see all of our funded projects?
Find them here.
How It Works
What We Value
Sustainable
Projects should have a life beyond a single use—through thoughtful material choices, reusable resources, adaptable ideas, or long-term integration into the curriculum.
Impactful
We prioritize ideas that create enriching opportunities and meaningfully reach students across a classroom, grade, school, or the district.
Purposeful
Projects should respond to a clear need or opportunity and make a meaningful difference in students’ learning.
Contact Us
Want to learn more about the Foundation or interested in joining our volunteer board? Send us a message—we’d love to hear from you.
Our Board
BOARD OFFICERS, 2026–2027
First Last, President
First Last, Vice President
First Last, Secretary
First Last, Treasurer
BOARD MEMBERS, 2026–2027
Joe Apuzzo
Andy Bivona
Karen DeKoskie
John Fracasse
Dinah Fried
Lalena Howard Meyerson
John Ingenio
Kristin Misik
Kirsten Wesselhoeft