Schools are receiving fewer and fewer dollars from the state each year and Tri-County Electric Cooperative is again announcing their Touchstone Energy Classroom Empowerment Grants for this year.  Bruce Barkau, Director of Member Services explains more.  The 8 grants are for $500 each and are to help where funding has failed with resources or materials to improve the learning environment.  School administrators and teachers for grades kindergarten through 12th grade can download an application at www.tricountycoop.com and submit that along with their idea, project or program.  They must be turned in by November 5th and will then be judged.  The winners will be announced in mid-December, before the holiday vacation.  Barkau says the requests can be for many various things inside and outside the school.  There are many requests and in the past there has been submissions for transportation costs to smartboards, but if it relates to electricity, then because the donor is an electric company, that application gains bonus points in the judging.  For more information contact Bruce Barkau at 618-244-5151.