Keeping Libraries Open and Maintaining Student Counseling Services
For the last 30 years the Scotts Valley Unified School District has needed to find funds to support critical educational needs that are not funded by the state of California. The Scotts Valley Educational Foundation (SVEF) has provided funding to the community’s public schools, with a charter to serve all public schools in the District. In the last four years, this has meant nearly $400,000 in donations to the District.
SVEF funded four school libraries, intervention counseling services for students, GLAD professional development training dedicated to building academic language and literacy for all students… and more.
This year SVEF was able to contribute $70,000 raised from last year’s key events- the annual Christmas Tree Lot in December, the Mountain Charlie Challenge bike ride in May, and the volunteer organization’s annual fundraising campaign. However, to fully meet the needs of the District, an urgent plea went out during the summer to parents and the community at large. Because of the response, the SVEF collected over $14,000 in donations in just a few weeks.
“We received an immediate response to our request,” said Derek Timm, SVEF President. “Contributions came in from parents, grandparents, community members, and local businesses. We are fortunate to live in a place where so many members of our community recognize the value of supporting our children’s education. Our community understands that the State is not giving sufficient backing for the District to provide quality education without private donations.” The proof is in the results as the Scotts Valley Unified District has been recognized nationally and statewide for the high quality education it provides.
SVEF, as a 100 percent volunteer organization, has no administrative costs. “Every penny raised will go back to support the critical needs request from the district,” says Timm.
“Every student in our district will feel this immediately, because without this contribution, their libraries would be closed,” emphasized Timm. Perhaps less obvious, but just as crucial, intervention counseling will help students to focus in class and on their academic progress, supporting classroom environments conducive to learning.
What other fundraising efforts are planned for this year? “It’s important that parents realize we will receive a request from the District at the end of the year to fund their most critical needs for the following academic year,” explains Timm.
SVEF is counting on direct donations from an initial back to school letter, as well as funds raised by the Holiday Tree Lot and Mountain Charlie Challenge to support the district’s needs for the 2015/16 school year. Every dollar raised during these fundraisers will go back to students, directly supporting education in Scotts Valley public schools.