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The Claremont Educational Foundation seeks to bridge the gap between what government funding can do and what our public school students really need and deserve. We have successfully supported art and music instruction in all elementary schools, technology in the classrooms at the middle and secondary schools, and in times of crisis, we have stabilized class room sizes and retained key educational staff positions like library and media aides.
Last year Claremont Unified School District lost more than $3.5 million in state funds. Class sizes grew in kindergarten through 3rd grade from 20:1 to 24:1 and in 9th grade English and Math from 20:1 to 30:1. Proctors and attendance clerks were dismissed or had their hours deeply reduced. The District anticipates a future shortfall of another $3.5 million that will impact classrooms, possibly starting next year if we don’t act now.
In unprecedented times like these, we ask you to join with us and choose quality public education through a gift to the Our Children, Our Schools, Our Choice Campaign. Our goal, based on conversations with Superintendent Dr. Terry Nichols, is to raise $500,000 in 2009-2010. These funds will help support smaller class sizes and continue programs that rely on CEF funding like elementary school art and music education and middle and high school technology initiatives.
Knowing that everyone has been affected by the economic downturn, we ask you to choose education as your top priority this year. Would you consider making a gift of $365, just a dollar a day or $30.48 a month to help protect quality education in our public schools? For those families who cannot contribute at that level, please give what you can; every gift counts. If you can give more, please invest in all our children’s future and our community through a significantly larger donation.
Giving is easy. You may donate online or mail your donation to 112 Harvard Avenue, #191, Claremont, California 91711. Please watch our website for news about a “State of the District” meeting in January and more information on the Our Children, Our Schools, Our Choice Campaign.
We know that $500,000 is an ambitious goal, but the potential cost of doing nothing is to watch an unequivocal deterioration in the overall educational experience we have come to expect for our children. |
