In past years, spring was when the Vashon School District was in crisis. With insufficient funding from the state, layoff notices were issued to teachers, sending ripples of worry that beloved instructors and entire classes would be lost. Volunteers stepped in and created the Vashon School Foundation and raised hundreds of thousands each year to fill the school district’s large budget gap. One year, as part of the effort, a multi-age class at Chautauqua even held a bake sale to raise funds for their teacher’s position.

As the district’s financial situation has gradually improved, some have wondered if the Vashon Schools Foundation would cease to exist when jobs and class sizes were no longer at risk. That time is here, and the foundation is as active as ever, now raising money for other needs at the district. Sound like a bait and switch? Look a little closer.

The schools aren’t facing a budget crisis, but they’re still receiving less funding than they did seven years ago. The state Supreme Court recently declared that Washington isn’t fully funding education. Until it does, public schools such as those on Vashon won’t have enough money for things like updating classroom curriculum and replacing textbooks in a timely manner — much less adding new programs. In recent years, donors have given less to the foundation. Lacking more urgent needs, the foundation has appropriately shrunk its request of the community to about $250,000, compared with half a million dollars in recent years. This shows those at the helm of the nonprofit are being both mindful and realistic in their approach to bolstering schools.

Should families continue to give to the schools foundation? It depends on what sort of schools they want. Take a look at page 4 of this issue, where the foundation’s top priorities are spelled out. Should the fundraiser fail, the island will no doubt still have strong public schools. But filling the gap will allow for more robust programs, updated teaching in the important areas of math and science and more programming on topics district officials have identified as vital on Vashon: mental health and suicide prevention. The foundation also wants to help fund the district’s preschool, something research increasingly show sets young children up for later success in school.

Robust schools benefit the whole community by attracting new families that contribute to the local economy and encouraging them to stay. Not surprisingly, foundations to support public schools are becoming commonplace in communities that have high expectations for their schools. Today’s students deserve the best education they can get. Until the state improves classroom funding, on Vashon, our foundation is here to stay. But it has appeared to set realistic and important goals, and hopefully the community will respond in kind.