From the Elkhart Truth:
Property tax caps hit budgets hard during the past several years, causing deep budget cuts. As a result, local governments and schools have to think creatively about financing special projects and programs.
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The Goshen Community Schools recently formed a non-profit foundation with its own board of directors to support the school corporation.
Its time has come.
The launch of the foundation coincides with the beginning of its first fundraising campaign and project.
The “Thank a Teacher” campaign allows alumni or parents of students to make a gift to the foundation in honor of a teacher who has made a difference in a child’s life. A portion of the money will be used for an endowment, with the rest of the funds used for school projects.
One project involves cultivating middle school interest in the high school’s International Baccalaureate program.
The plan calls for identifying 30 incoming freshmen from disadvantaged backgrounds who would likely succeed in the IB program, an advanced course of study that allows students to earn college credit. The students would spend time on a college campus and get to know their future high school teachers during a summer camp at Ball State University.
That’s a good start. But there are also many possibilities for funding by private foundations, including programs targeting the gifted, students with special needs, English as a Second Language students and students who fall behind grade level.
And then there’s extracurricular activities such as music, art, sports and clubs of various kinds that could use a boost. Studies show students who participate in extracurricular activities do better on core classwork.
Goshen’s foundation may just be the first to take off among local school systems. Given the economic outlook, it probably won’t be the last.
Or let’s put it this way: It shouldn’t be that last.
http://www.etruth.com/article/20120418/OPINION/704189983
