Weston Elementary secures over $10K in grants to upgrade ‘Spartan Sensory Room’

IMLAY CITY — Students at Weston Elementary School will have access to a revamped sensory space this school year, thanks to $10,250 in combined grant funding awarded to support student emotional and sensory regulation.

Resource Room teacher Chander Crump secured a $10,000 grant from the Four County Community Foundation’s Dora and Toas Ondersma Fund, as well as a $250 grant from the Kiwanis Club of Lapeer, to transform the school’s “Spartan Sensory Room.” The updated space is designed to help students learn to manage sensory needs, build healthy coping mechanisms, and return to their regular classrooms ready to focus.

Working alongside a design specialist from Fun and Function, Crump selected targeted equipment to accommodate a wide variety of needs. Planned additions include a sensory swing, crash mats, interactive wall panels, weighted supports, bubble tube and fiber optic lighting, gel floor tiles, wave chairs, and specialized sensory seating.

“Every day we work with students who struggle with emotional regulation, sensory processing, attention, anxiety, and communication,” Crump said, noting that the space will serve both special education students and general education students needing additional support. “While many of these students receive Special Education services, we also see a growing number of general education students who need additional support to successfully participate in the classroom.”

Crump will coordinate the setup and ongoing use of the room in partnership with Lapeer County ISD occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists from the Consortium for Exceptional Children, classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, and school administrators.

District officials say the upgraded room represents a long-term investment in student well-being that will benefit the broader school community by fostering a more supportive and effective learning environment.

— Submitted by Elizabeth Gallagher, Weston principal