Easton Schools Consider Fundraising Foundation
Representatives from the Mid-Atlantic Consortium of Education Foundations make a pitch to Easton Area School Board.
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The Easton Area School Board is considering setting up a private foundation to raise money for the school district.
The board heard a pitch last week from representatives from the Mid-Atlantic Consortium of Education Foundations, which helps school districts do private fundraising.
The presentation came the same night the district learned it needed to come up with money to fill a $4.2 million budget gap.
Bob New, president of the consortium, told board members that many districts are dealing with similar deficits and have set up private foundations to help.
New said an Easton-based foundation should be able to raise between $150,000 and $300,000 a year, if all goes well.
"We’re only following the example of our public universities," New said, noting that both Pitt and Penn State universities have $3 billion endowments.
Other school districts have taken in even more money than what New envisioned for the Easton district. Connie Kindler, New's associate, told the board the Camp Hill School District recently received $15 million to build a new performing arts center.
“That never would’ve happened if there wasn’t a foundation,” she said.
The foundation would cost the district about $25,000 a year -- the salary for an executive director who would work part time, New said.
School board president Robert Fehnel said the district had considered setting up a foundation in the past, but never acted on it. The board took no action last week, and Fehnel said it's a matter that requires more discussion.
P Berger
12:32 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
That all sounds delicious. Does the Mid-Atlantic Consortium of Education Foundations have a website? I'd like to know more about them and my Google searches have returned curiously little useful information.
P Berger
12:42 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
just found this... from 2008 Dallas PA School Board meeting minutes... 1.8 "personal visits a month" for 15 months at the cost of 15k? Color me skeptical.
"Foundation Consultant – Mr. Bob New – MACEF
Mr. New said there are 175 educational foundations throughout Pennsylvania – many are still being formed. Started in California in the mid 80’s. Educational foundations are new supplemental income relationship between educational foundation and school district. Must be a marriage between foundation and school district. The Foundation Umbrella, a 501 (C) (3) can support a variety of services to the school district and its students. The five main areas are: Educational Support Initiatives; Scholarships; Endowment; Athletic; and Alumni. It is a business – has to be run as a business. Have to get the right people involved – need volunteers. Cost to hire Mr. New: $18,000 for 15 months. He’s available about 1.8 personal visits per month"
Ronnie DelBacco
7:20 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
Sounds like a waste of time and money.
How about this, our current school directors spend less time listening to outsiders and more time listening to parents about actual educational issues.
For starters, why haven't they addressed the incorrect information being taught and tested in the 6th grade History/Social Studies classes.
What? You haven't heard about this?
My point exactly.
Dave Rex
12:08 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
I would like to know more about Mr New's track record as well as his specific and foundational accomplishments. What constitutes a "personal visit", or some fractional division thereof?
P Berger
10:09 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Staying on topic... It all smells of Professor Henry Hill comin' to River City.
Dave Rex
11:04 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Incorrect information being taught to 6th graders?
Spending "more time listening to parents about actual educational issues" certainly sounds wholesome, but for the fact that I know all too many parents who couldn't pass a 6th grade mathematics, history or science test.
And, yes, this guy and his "consortium" has the distinct aroma of a hustler. Easton beware.
So I have this alternative to the "traditional" algebraic order of operations...
Ronnie DelBacco
11:52 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Dave,
Yes. Incorrect information being taught to 6th graders in Social Studies. I am currently in the process of trying to get the school board to look at the problem. The state standards back up my assertion on the specific agenda to be taught regarding forms of government. The teachers and the principal have used the state standards as their defense, but a closer look at them actually proves their mistake. The "state standards" excuse is all too common when a teacher or administrator is questioned, but trying to get the school board to take action has been frustrating to say the least. Don't write off too many parents as not being able to pass a 6th grade test. The problem is the information being taught, not the ability to learn it.
Dave Rex
12:45 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
What specific misinformation is being taught to 6th graders? And what consequences have been endured as a result of such misinformation being taught?
I know quite a few parents and I would trust very few to educate children of mine, especially in mathematics or the sciences. I have little reason to suspect that parents' understanding of history and/or social studies is significantly better than their (often pathetically poor) grasp of maths and sciences. Of course my evidences and experiences are admittedly anecdotal...
Ronnie DelBacco
1:38 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Email me. It's too much to go into here until the school board takes up the issue, but I'd like to talk to you more about it.
gr82hearfromyou@yahoo.com