PPIE Pledges Dollars to Bring Back Hours for Schools Technology Specialists

The Pleasanton Partnerships in Education Foundation will put in the $7,100 still needed in order to bring back the work hours of 12 technology specialists at middle and elementary schools to 4 hours per day.

As of July 12, Pleasanton's district-wide campaign to save the jobs of technology specialists has brought in more than $570,000.

The Community OutReach for Education effort has designated about $333,238  for elementary schools, $108,464 for middle schools and $113,104 for high schools.

Another $13,923 of undesignated funds will also go toward elementary and middle schools.

With donations still continuing to come in, the foundation has made a pledge to the district to provide the approximately $7,100 still needed to reach the baseline goal for elementary and middle schools.

"It's a pretty exciting opportunity for all of us, it came with a lot of hard work," said Debi Covello, the foundation's executive director.

Board President Chris Grant, who is also in the foundation's board of directors, commended the group for their efforts. 

"It's been grassroots ... bake sales, carnivals ... that bring the community together," he said.

Pat Mitchell, an officer in the union that represents technology specialists, also thanked the foundation.

"This benefits not only our employees but our students as well," she said. "When a computer isn't working, nothing works."

In comparison to the nearly $950,000 initial goal of the campaign for the entire district, Covello said the amount that the foundation is pledging is "next to nothing."

This option, of accepting PPIE's pledge, also leaves no extra cost to the district – a much different alternative than one that was presented at the board's last meeting on June 22.

On June 22, district staff recommended that the board borrow from district funds to allocate $27,508 to bring the base level for technology specialists.

The proposal would have reached into the district's Sycamore Property fund, which has 4.7 million for the current fiscal year. The fund was created when the district sold property that was to be used to build a school. The sale of that property totaled nearly $7.1 million.

Since board policy requires that any vote pertaining to the Sycamore fund gain a 4-1 vote, the board's 3-2 vote on June 22 stalled the possibility of hiring technology specialists at that time.

Board members Valerie Arkin and Jamie Hintzke voted against borrowing from the Sycamore fund at the June 22 board meeting and cited wanting to be fiscally responsible as the reason behind their votes. Board members Chris Grant, Pat Kernan and Jim Ott all voted for the recommendation.

At last night's meeting, the board finalized the hiring of Jim Hansen as principal of Amador Valley High School.

Hansen replaces Bill Coupe, Jr., who left Amador Valley for retirement. Hansen comes from Harvest Park Middle School where he has been principal for the past 11 years.

Nika Megino contributed to this report.