In December the Comal Education Foundation awarded 18 Comal ISD teachers with grants totaling more than $56,000 to help implement projects, purchase equipment and more.

The grants were awarded through the foundation’s Fall Prize Patrol, and funding will benefit art, music, reading, science and technology initiatives at 12 campuses across the district, according to a CISD press release.

A digital art program at Canyon High School, an on-campus library at the Comal Discipline Center and an advanced 3D virtual reality learning experience at Pieper High School are among the projects that were awarded grant funding.

Additionally, 50 first-year teachers were awarded $250 each to help build their classrooms.

Since its creation in 2001, the foundation has awarded more than $1 million in grants, according to the release, and applications for spring grants are now being accepted through Feb. 11. Any CISD employee is welcome to apply.