Foundation is defined as the basis on which something stands or
is supported.
Schools are very much supported by their communities. San Benito
High School District officials are looking for a more continual and
organized financial support for the school via a community
foundation.
Foundation is defined as the basis on which something stands or is supported.
Schools are very much supported by their communities. San Benito High School District officials are looking for a more continual and organized financial support for the school via a community foundation.
Some sort of foundation would serve as a financial buffer during unsure and precarious budget times for education, like the state’s current situation, said Superintendent Jean Burns Slater.
It could also untie the hands of teachers.
“Teachers wouldn’t feel so limited by funds. Our teachers feel so thwarted by a lack of funds that they don’t open their minds for potential – they just say, ‘Oh, we can’t afford it,'” Slater said. “We immediately start to think we can’t do it because of money.”
The movement for a nonprofit community foundation is in the beginning stages and will take more than a year to get started.
Although the school used to have some sort of foundation, Athletic Director Randy Logue most recently brought up the need for a foundation.
Logue was looking for a way to stop the athletic department from its continual deficit spending, Slater said.
But Slater is looking for the foundation to have broader implications than just athletics.
“It can help support the sports booster money, but I realized there’s no academic booster – there’s no one that provides extra funds for academics,” she said. “The state gives us funds for remedial education, but not for other areas.”
Slater, along with members of advisory committees, came up with three possible areas of need – ag science, visual and performing arts and media/technology.
Mini-grants are examples of how the foundation would give to the school. Mini-grants can be as small as $500 that teachers apply for to meet or supplement lesson plans.
While demand is there, Slater also said supply is available. Because there are thousands of SBHS alumni still in the county, Slater said there would be a lot of support within the community.
But there is some reluctance to give money directly to schools because the donor has no control of where it’s spent.
“Some people don’t go to the school and say ‘here’s my donation.’ There’s no control of where the money will be spent,” said community member Ray Rodriguez. “With the foundation, a board of community members decides that.”
Also, with a foundation, donations can be restricted so donors have a say in where money goes.
Recently, Steve DeLay, director of finance and operations at the district, and Rodriguez attended a workshop on community foundations.
They realized it would be better if a foundation was built to benefit SBHS, but one that is not run by SBHS. It would be controlled by the community with suggestions on areas of need from school staff, Slater said.
The next step is establishing a steering committee to develop bylaws, goals and a mission and vision statement, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez and SBHS officials are also meeting with Gary Byrne, executive director of the Community Foundation for San Benito County.
The county’s Community Foundation builds a permanent endowment with funds contributed by individuals and institutions and provides grants and assistance to develop and strengthen community organizations.
“We’re pretty young,” Rodriguez said. “We’re trying to learn from Gary right now.”
Anyone interested in serving on the steering committee or being a part of the foundation, can call Rodriguez at 636-9520.
