As a Washington state tax payer, what part of K-12 schooling are you ready to cut? Electives in the high school and middle school? Appropriately sized classrooms? Librarians? Art? Or are none of these cuts acceptable?
On Vashon, as most families and alums will tell you, we pride ourselves on the great education our children get from kindergarten to 12th grade. From art classes to athletic programs, from creative writing to science electives, from band to calculus, we want our children to get the most out of their education. And the thought of cutting programs that help students become productive, thoughtful and creative adults is an option that we don’t believe in.
The economic conditions in the state being what they are (a current $1.2 billion shortfall for this year), have made the phrases “new normal” and “bridging the gap” fairly common. What also has become common is knowing that it’s up to us to keep public education great. We are not okay with just standing by while the state cuts school funding year after year.
The Vashon Island Public Schools Foundation was created two years ago with one simple goal: to raise money to help make up for the lack of state funding. Over the past two years, the foundation has raised almost $900,000, allowing the district to retain math, science, Spanish and physical education teachers, just to name a few. The money came from Island businesses, teachers, school families, friends, grandparents and other Islanders who know how crucial a great school system is to the overall health of our community.
This year we’re faced with the same challenge: Our goal is to raise $500,000 in pledges by May 1. If we can do this, the school board won’t have to send out RIF notices and teachers can have the summer planning the next school year — not looking for a new job.
And like so many things on the Island, if we all pitch in, we’ll get it done. If people can donate $1 per day per student (which comes to about $30 a month per student), we’ll do it. To make a pledge, let the foundation know what your planned gift will be by May 1. Payment doesn’t need to be received until June 1. Or gifts can be set up monthly over the year, July to June.
While the foundation is raising money, the district and the school board are doing all they can to reduce costs, finding new revenue streams and exploring new partnerships that might share resources and spaces.
The foundation is important to the district, but it is not the only important fundraising player for the schools. PIE and the PTSA both play critical roles — PIE with its amazing enrichment grants that teachers can apply for and the PTSA supporting the curriculum that teachers rely on every day. Vashon Allied Arts also offers support with their artist in residence programs. Without these organizations, all three schools would be very different than they are today.
By working together — the community, the fundraising organizations and the district — we’ll be able to raise the money needed to keep these schools filled with dedicated teachers doing what they love to do: raising the next generation of thoughtful, creative, interested adults.
— Zabette Macomber chairs the Vashon Island Public Schools Foundation board.
