Education foundation plans to raise $300,000 Education foundation plans to raise $300,000 (July 16, 2004)

Funds would go toward art, science and sports

By Julie O'Shea

The Mountain View Educational Foundation announced last week that it has set a $300,000 fundraising goal for the 2004-2005 school year.

The new donations would add to the $120,000 roll-over money the foundation has left in its bank account from last year's effort. Its funds are slated to be used for music and art classes, science kits and after-school sports for grades six through eight.

Foundation president Amy Beare said she hopes to raise enough money to pay for services and programs which are not going to be covered by the Mountain View-Whisman School District's $1.6-million parcel tax, which was passed by voters in March.

The board of trustees last month approved a $31.6-million budget for the upcoming school year, a $2.1-million jump from last year, but still a tight squeeze for the 4,200-pupil district, officials said.

"It's still really tough," said Beare of the district's fiscal situation. "The cost of programs is going up, and there is less money in the budget." She added that the foundation intends "to push the parent community hard."

Beare said the community needs to continue to open its wallet for education, despite already passing a parcel tax. Last year, following the failure of an earlier parcel tax measure, the foundation raised nearly $600,000, saving many programs and services district officials were getting ready to axe. On an average year, the foundation normally raises about $150,000.

This week, volunteers sent out letters asking families to donate $200 for each child they have in the school district. Beare said she wants to raise $180,000 by September. In addition to individual donations, the foundation has typically relied on a Monte Carlo casino night and a golf tournament during the school year to raise funds.

Last year, Beare said there was a 35-percent participation rate from the parent community. And the foundation received a big boost from local businesses, she noted.

Services that the foundation is hoping to fund next year include art and music in grades one through five; hands-on science programs for kindergarten through eighth grade; physical education classes for fourth and fifth graders; and reading enrichment for the middle schools.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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