By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- The Board of Education accepted a $51,000 grant from the Alcoa Foundation on Thursday night that will pay to install SMART boards in each classroom at Madison Elementary School. The funds will also cover related technology, including LCD projectors.

Madison Principal Alan Oliver said the project could begin any day and they are hopeful it will be finished by Christmas, but it’s not anticipated to go beyond February.

“We’re ready to go with the orders as soon as the funds are transferred,” Oliver said. “It’s just a matter of coding.”

District maintenance and tech staff will perform the installation.

The Alcoa Foundation made a similar grant to Jefferson Elementary earlier in the year, giving $53,000 for SMART technology to go in every instruction space.

“It was very successful, so we decided to work with Mr. Oliver to do the same at Madison,” Alcoa communications and public affairs manager Laurie Marr said.

When the Alcoa Foundation grants money for education, they gear it towards STEM-related learning, meaning science, technology and math, or something environment-related.

“This is a great STEM project to expose the kids to this kind of instructional technology,” Marr said. “Some aren’t fortunate enough to be exposed to this in their homes.”

Superintendent of Schools William Crist said he is looking at getting SMART tech put into Nightengale school, the only elementary in the district without it.

“There’s a plan in place, it hasn’t publicly been unfolded,” according to Crist.