Patch Primer: Fundraising in Pleasanton Schools

This special Patch Primer delves into fundraising for schools and the school budget crisis. The first of our  Primer series, "Patch Primer: Fundraising in Pleasanton Schools" is designed to give you a comprehensive overview of a complex topic, giving you facts-at-a-glance, links to informative web sites and PDFs. Patch Primers will be linked to related news stories, like the story I'm working on about the impacts of the fundraising campaign on the community as a whole. Think Wikipedia, but all about Pleasanton.

Status Update:

As of August 10, a Pleasanton Unified School District fundraising campaign called Community Outreach For Education (CORE) has raised $577,586. The overall goal is to raise $954,064 for the entire district. 

The Issue:

The district must fill a $3.4 million budget gap during the 2010-2011 school year. Earlier in the year, the district faced an $8 million shortfall, but an agreement with the teacher's union cut the number by more than half, restoring positions and programs. Items that were not part of the agreement are still on the chopping block: technology specialists, library assistants and other tech support at schools.

From March until June 8, the campaign asks parents to donate $150 a student. The overall goals at each level:

• Elementary School:  There are nine technology specialists and nine library assistants in elementary schools.  There is currently no funding next year for technology specialists, and only two hours a day for library assistants. The goal of $399,375 would pay for 4 hours a day for tech specialists, 3 more hours a day for library assistants, plus additional funds for student programs.
• Middle School: There are three technology specialists and three library assistants.  For next year, there is no funding for technology specialists and 3.5 hours a day for library assistants. The goal or $229,689 would pay for four hours a day for tech specialists, 2.5 more hours a day for library assistants, plus additional funds for student support programs.
• High Schools: The goal of $325,000 would pay for upgraded hardware and software.

Parents may earmark donations per school level, but not by school site. 

If the campaign does not reach its goals, lower benchmarks allow schools at each level to divide up the funds and incrementally add hours or to their student support programs. 

What happens if the overall goal isn't reached? 

The Pleasanton Unified School District strives to provide what it calls"equity" among schools. The idea is for all the schools to have the same resources and funding at the district level. In the past, school sites have been able to use their discretionary funds to add on hours for some positions including technology specialists. 

For this campaign, the district has said that parent groups and specific school sites won't be able to add to tech specialist and library assistant hours if the overall goals are not met. 

What was there before?

The Pleasanton Unified School District receives most of its funds (93 percent) from the state, which allocates money to districts based on student attendance. The allocation for 2010 is $5,428 a student. Other states, such as New York and New Jersey, spend $15,000 a student. 

Additional dollars come from:

• Donations and fundraising dollars from the district's two foundations and from parent groups typically add up to approximately $750,000 on an average year. 
• Last year, parent groups and the two foundations raised more than $400,000 through the I Love Pleasanton Schools Campaign. The money eventually went to reading and music specialists and restored counselor hours.
• Parent groups usually seek a per-family or per-student donation during the walk-through registration process in the beginning of the school year. 
• The Tech Match program, which was discontinued to balance this year's budget. Through the program, parents at each school would raise funds for technology needs. The district would then match those funds up to $10,000. 

How do we compare to other districts when it comes to fundraising?

In neighboring San Ramon Valley Unified School District, $15 million comes from parent groups and foundations. Parents donate an average of $250 a student during registration. San Ramon's parcel tax contributes another $6.6 million. 

Livermore Unified School District passed a $138 parcel tax in 2008. Some schools in Livermore have suggested a $1,000 per-student donation. (This figure comes from the Livermore Valley Charter School 2007-2008 fundraising drive.) Livermore, however, only has site-specific fundraisers as opposed to districtwide efforts.

Who's behind the fundraising campaign?

• Pleasanton Partnerships in Education - Typically the foundation raises funds from individual and company donations for its student and teacher grant programs. Teachers and students can apply for the grants for different reasons, such as to help establish a math club or other special projects within a school. Last year, the foundation partnered with the district and parent groups to raise additional funds through the I Love Pleasanton Schools campaign. 
• Pleasanton Unified School District - During the last two school years and through next year, the district has had budget cuts amounting to about $17 million dollars. The reductions equal $940 less spending per student from 2008 to 2010.
•  Parent Groups - Each school has a parent group that typically raises funds for their school sites. Many use the walk-through registration process at the beginning of the year to ask parents school-specific or activity-specific needs. Additionally, parent groups hold fundraiser events throughout the year.
• Pleasanton Schools Educational Enrichment, whose primary focus is on music and the arts, also is trying to help raise money for the district. Its goal for next year is to raise $90,000 to maintain the current number of elementary music specialists with an additional $200,000 to reinstate other student programs. The group will hold a benefit May 21-22 to help reach that goal. 

What are the controls?/Who's watching the money?

Funds raised will be monitored by the Pleasanton Partnerships in Education and the school district. They are releasing weekly reports on the campaign. Additionally, campaign meters are available on their web site. 

Why these items?

The district conducted a survey in February to determine which programs are most important to school sites. There were more than 9,000 respondents.

The top items of concerns to parents were:

• Elementary Schools: science, physical education and class size
• Middle Schools: athletics, site funds, extracurricular activities
• High Schools: athletics, extracurricular activities, counseling, 7th period, site funds

After the survey, school principals came together to tell the district about their biggest funding needs. Technology support, specialists and library assistants topped their list ofpriorities, according to the district.

At the high school level, however, 7th period remains a concern for some parents, as students use it to take more classes. 

Outside of the fundraiser, what else is being done?

Within the district, a revenue enhancement subcommittee is looking at alternative funding sources, including a parcel tax. The district is also waiting to see what happens with the state budget revision in May. Last year's Measure G for a tax of $233 per parcel would have raised $4.3 million each year.