The Vashon Schools Foundation, which had hoped to raise $550,000 by this Saturday to fill the school district’s large budget deficit, has extended its fundraising deadline to Thursday, June 30. 

Erin Sheridan, who heads the new foundation, said the organization wanted more time to explore donation sources and work to meet its ambitious goal.

As of last Friday, the foundation had raised $206,000, and Sheridan said it collected several more thousands of dollars over the weekend. 

Sheridan said the foundation recently began reaching out to Vashon’s business community, something it plans to continue to do over the next month. It also hopes to garner more donations from the families of current students.

“We feel like we don’t have anywhere near full participation in the schools’ community,” she said. “Between those two things, it made sense to extend to June 30.”

June 30 is also the latest that funds can be raised for the school board to decide what programs and positions to restore. 

Sheridan was unsure whether the foundation would meet its goal of $550,000, but said she was positive it could bring in quite a bit more. 

“I think that times are tight, but I remain optimistic. … I think we’re going to go well past $200,000,” she said.