Students and faculty in Wellington will be returning to school with $440,000 from the village’s Keely Spinelli Grant Program. As in previous years, each of the 11 public schools in the community will receive $40,000 from the village to invest in education and help academically challenged students improve.
Administrators and principals from all the public schools in Wellington made a presentation before the Wellington Education Committee on Tuesday, Aug. 4 to show how the grant money was used last school year.
Almost every school in Wellington was able to maintain its A rating last year. New Horizons Elementary School was able to keep its B rating but is still on the path of improving its academic performance to achieve an A rating in the future.
The principals from Binks Forest Elementary School, Elbridge Gale Elementary School, Equestrian Trails Elementary School, New Horizons Elementary School, Panther Run Elementary School, Wellington Elementary School, Emerald Cove Middle School, Polo Park Middle School, Wellington Landings Middle School, Palm Beach Central High School and Wellington High School showed the committee academic data and recent highlights.
Funds from the Keely Spinelli Grant Program largely went to increasing tutoring opportunities, funding for extra teachers and supplies for teaching. “We are so very grateful for the grants you guys give us every year,” said Michella Jimenez, principal of Binks Forest Elementary School. “We outperform the district every year… I think it’s because of these grants, and we’re able to use them as we need to use them and truly meet the needs of students.”
The grant was created in honor of former Binks Forest Elementary School Principal Keely Spinelli, who died of cancer in 2008. The grant is allocated from the Village of Wellington’s annual budget and has invested more than $5 million into the village’s public schools. Many of the funds go toward overall education improvements, but mainly to help underperforming students in the lowest 25th percentile academically.
“Words cannot express how appreciative we are of you for what you do for our students here in the village,” said Dr. Vivian Green, central instructional superintendent for the Palm Beach County School District. “Many of the principals… not only did they maintain their school grades, but they also improved.”
Committee members praised school district officials for their service to the community in helping make Wellington one of the county’s best places for education.
Committee Member Marcella Montesinos said she hopes they will all have a great school year.
“Everyone keeps saying thank you to us, but it’s not us; it’s you and your staff, your parents and everyone who surrounds you,” Montesinos said. “I hope you have an amazing year this year and have the best time.”
The committee unanimously approved the 2026-27 Keely Spinelli Grant Program funds. The Wellington Village Council will present school officials with checks for the grant at their first meeting in the upcoming fiscal year.
