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Minds and Matter: New school foundation plans to focus on long-term investments
by Kevin Hatfield, School Superintendent · Op-Ed · August 06, 2015
Dear Friends, Parents, Community Members, Business Leaders and Alumni:
The West Branch Community School District is thrilled to be kicking off a new “school foundation.” It is exciting to think of the incredible opportunities and resources a school foundation could bring to our students. The West Branch School Foundation (WBSF) will focus on going above and beyond the goals of our other very important school-affiliated organizations – our great PTO, Fine Arts Connection and All-Athletic Boosters groups.
In an era of ever tightening school budgets, limited school funding and resources, it is important for school districts to have to consider having long-term investment opportunities in place. Many of the school districts around us have highly successful school foundations. Their students have been benefitting from their amazing support for a number of years. We hope it is our students’ turn.
West Branch has a history of turning out outstanding community and civic-minded individuals and leaders. It is our hope that the WBSF will strengthen our community by building partnerships with businesses and individuals to raise, steward and distribute funds, thereby enhancing educational excellence for present and future West Branch students. The foundation was developed as part of the District’s Strategic Plan. A “foundation design committee” met multiple times this past year to develop the purpose of the new school foundation.
School Foundation Purpose: The purpose of the West Branch School Foundation is to develop, maintain, increase and enhance educational opportunities to benefit the future focused community of learners in the school district.
The Foundation supports:
• Identified priorities of the district
• Innovative teaching and learning
• Student scholarships
• Capital projects
Donation Consider-ations:
• Innovative Teach-ing (Mini-Grants)
• Memorial Donations
• Planned Giving (Endowments and Trusts)
• Scholarship Donations
• Capital Campaign (facilities enhancements)
Near the start of the 2015 – 2016 school year, the WBSF will be sharing important information concerning upcoming meetings, as well as, ways for stakeholders to be involved through targeted, charitable giving opportunities.
At the July, 2015, Board of Education meeting, our directors approved four great, new West Branch School Foundation trustees: Mr. John Hierseman, Mrs. Kathy Knoop, Mrs. Marisa Stout and Mr. Chris Bower. We would appreciate being able to add at least one more school foundation trustee this year.
Please call or talk to one of our trustees if you have an interest in becoming a trustee, have additional questions, or would like to contribute to this future focused effort.
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