The merger of the Griffin-Spalding Education Foundation and the Griffin-Spalding Partners in Education was officially completed on Dec. 31, 2011. The move came as an effort to create a more efficient support organization for the local school system.

“We concluded we could have a single, more financially efficient organization to manage both partners in education and the fiscal resources of the Griffin-Spalding Education Foundation,” said Anna Burns, the school system’s director of school and community services. “We believe this new organization will better serve the needs of our teachers and students.”

Despite the merger, grants and mini-grants will continue to be available to local schools and teachers.

Schools and groups of teachers can apply for grants up to $1,000, and individual teachers of the Griffin-Spalding County School System may submit their application for a mini-grant of up to $300.

“Grants for teachers and students offer great opportunities for projects that could not be funded otherwise,” said Evan Stitt, co-chairman of the Partners in Education Board of Directors. “All of the projects that will be awarded funding will enhance the curriculum already being taught in our classrooms.”

The application deadline for schools and teachers is Feb. 5. Forms and can be found at www.supportspaldingschools.org. Applicants will be notified on whether their application was successful no later than March 2.

Last year, Partners in Education and the Education Foundation funded 44 grants ranging from $85 to $1,000 for a total of $19,500.