Increasingly, our underfunded schools are turning to external fundraising organizations to make up the difference in educations funds provided by the state for what is needed to get our kids ready for the 21st century workforce. I will be attending the 2nd annual IPSF Gala this weekend (sold out!) whic will raise a significant amount of dollars of IUSD schools.
This announcement from IPSF is geared towards parents of IUSD schools asking for what amounts to a dollar a day to help cut the gap one of the most underfunded districts in the state faces annually.
$1 MILLION FOR IRVINE SCHOOLS: IPSF Launches Annual Campaign
Irvine, CA – October 20, 2011 – Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) announces the launch of its 2011 Annual Campaign, with a goal to raise $500,000 for schools in the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) by December 31. These funds will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the City of Irvine as a result of last year’s passage of Measure R – Irvine Schools Support Initiative. If IPSF meets its goal, the students of Irvine will directly benefit from the donation of $1 million dollars to IUSD.
“Education funding in California continues to rank at the bottom in comparison to other states,” said IPSF CEO Neda Zaengle. “The Irvine community has consistently shown that it values education and we are asking for everyone’s support as we raise much-needed funds for our schools.”
In a letter of support for the campaign signed by IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker and IUSD School Board President Sue Kuwabara, the school district called upon parents to consider a donation to IPSF of $ 1 per day—or $365—by the end of the calendar year.
“If you’ve ever considered making a donation to preserve excellence in the classroom, or even to help maintain the property values that are linked to our schools’ performance, now is the time to contribute,” said Kuwabara and Walker in the letter.
For more information, please visit the IPSF website at www.ipsf.net or contact IPSF at 949-263-8340.
Mayor Kang helped push through this initiative last year where the city would match up to $1 million for evcery dollar raised by parents of Irvine kids in IUSD and TUSD schools (so don’t believe Adam Probolsky’s claims that the most significant thing Kang had done was vote with Republicans on a Housing deal for new homes near the Great Park; when Adam is a dad with kids in school, he’ll pay attention to programs like the challenge grant).
I have to wonder if State Rep. Don Wagner will bother to show; he has done nothing to help Irvine Schools since taking office last year. Hard to be a champion of education when you’re in an actual position to affect policy and then won’t.
Isn’t this known as the “Santa Ana Plan”?