It’s always nice to have a little extra money in the coffers, and city school leaders are hoping they may have hit upon a partial solution to a longtime budget crisis.
Many districts have organized educational foundations to serve as the fundraising arm of schools, and the Columbus Municipal School District is exploring the option.
Janet Lewis, public information officer for the district, spoke to school board members and other administrative staff about the issue Saturday during a budget planning session.
Though foundations vary in structure, their focus is fundraising and redirecting money. Some may provide mini-grants for teachers to implement innovate programs. Others may purchase needed classroom materials, fund trips or assist in myriad ways, including improving relationships between schools and the communities they serve.
Typically, the foundations have their own boards, which are appointed on a volunteer basis, though this can change from district to district.
If the Columbus school district decides to implement the program, it will take six months to a year to plan, Lewis said. Right now, it’s just in the exploratory phase.
Board President Glenn Lautzenhiser said Tuesday afternoon that he has heard of educational foundations but has no personal experience with them. The idea is worth considering though, he said.
“Because of the economic times we’re living in, we need to explore every possibility to enhance education,” he said. “Any and everything we can do to help shore up the district would be a good thing.”
Columbus Interim Superintendent of Education Dr. Martha Liddell was equally enthusiastic, saying she supports the concept.
“Educational foundations will help our schools and district be able to receive funding assistance to complement our instructional programs,” she said.
One prominent educational foundation in the state is the CREATE Foundation, which serves a 16-county region in northeast Mississippi. The foundation also serves 10 community affiliates, including Monroe and Oktibbeha counties.
According to CREATE’s website, the foundation was formed in 1972 as a nonprofit charitable organization overseen by a board of directors drawn from business and community leaders.
Some of the organization’s goals include building permanent community endowments, strengthening regional development, offering leadership on community issues, managing charitable funds and targeted grant-making.
Starkville schools also have the support of a nonprofit fundraising arm, the Starkville Foundation For Public Education. The foundation “financially supports innovative and dynamic education that inspires and empowers the Starkville School District … through student scholarships, teacher grants and graduate recognition,” according to its website. The agency started in 1989 and has invested more than $130,000 in the city schools.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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