Chaffee scholarship fund yet to be tapped

More than two years since a Chaffee High School graduate left $1.6 million to the district's foundation, the money has not reached whom the benefactor intended -- students.

While the foundation received the money in October, following months of litigation, members of the foundation's board of directors have not agreed on how to proceed with the money.

The benefactor, the late Garth Briggs, specified the money be used for scholarships. He requested "primary consideration being given to financially needy students who intend to pursue a vocational or technical education."

Foundation members are trying to decide the amount of future scholarships and whether the money should be given in a lump sum or if students should have to reapply. Which schools would qualify as providing a vocational or technical education is also being discussed, according to superintendent Ken Latham. He said he didn't know whether scholarships would be given this year from the money.

"We're in a battle because we want to do everything right and make sure we don't jeopardize ourselves," he said. "If we do something wrong, then no one will get to enjoy the fruits."

He said another debate is how to follow up on students after they receive a scholarship to see if they are passing their courses. The question of how to select students for scholarships also remains.

"We don't want to give too much money to a kid, for example, who is already getting an athletic scholarship," he said.

Joe Rice and David Summers, two board members who are also lawyers, are helping guide the board legally, Latham said.

"There will be scholarships as soon as the guidelines are prepared," Rice said, adding he expects the guidelines to be completed this school year. He said he thought the board had met three times to discuss the guidelines since October.

Board president Jean Whitaker said she had "nothing to report."

The money has been invested, but Rice declined to say where.

"We didn't get interest while it was tied up in court, and that is another battle as well," Latham said.

The court proceedings were described by Whitaker last year as routine. She said then that the proceedings involved the administration of Briggs' multimillion-dollar estate.

Briggs was a 1935 graduate of Chaffee High School who died in Florida in 2005. Previously he owned a tool manufacturing business in Ohio.

He had no children, and the Southeast Missourian reported in 2006 that his only survivors were two brothers. One has since died. The bequest was made in honor of his parents, G.Q. and Marie Briggs.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

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