Schools

Educational Foundation Surpasses $2M in Fundraising, Saves Teachers' Jobs

With its most successful gala yet, the La Cañada Educational Foundation has raised $2,020,000 to put toward La Cañada Unified School District, helping them to retain several teachers who'd been on the chopping block.

Eight full-time temporary elementary teachers have been rehired to the district, thanks to $2 million raised by the . 

Governing Board President Scott Tracy announced Tuesday that the Foundation surpassed its goal -- it has actually raised $2,020,000 -- which allows the district to reintate teachers whose jobs were on the chopping block due to budget constraints.

A total of 8.67 full-time employees were hired back, and there could be one more pulled from the termination list. The money also enabled the District to hire a part-time math teacher for ninth grade and a part-time English language arts teacher, reducing those over-crowded classes. 

Find out what's happening in La Cañada Flintridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In March, the school board voted to release 18 temporary teachers, who comprise 16 full-time jobs, and one permanent physical education teacher. Board members promised to restore as many of the positions as possible, using funds raised by the foundation.

"This is definitely wonderful news. We have to thank them for all those Herculean efforts,'' said Superintendent Wendy Sinnette, who also commended the community for stepping up to the district's "dire need.''

Find out what's happening in La Cañada Flintridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Foundation President Paul Murray told Patch the dollars raised will help the district dial back the amount it will have to dip into the reserves. The money will further allow the district to maintain smaller class sizes.

He attributes achieving this year's $2 million goal faster than last year to having a full year of getting the word out, asking $2,500 of each family, as well as the huge efforts last year by Craig Mazin and the rest of the Task Force. Plus, the record-setting Gala this year.

"The bottom line is the community all stepped up despite all the challenges this year.  Thank you to everyone who gave,'' he said, pointing out there is still time to get onboard this year (before June 30) at lcfef.org/donate.

While Murray said any amount is great, a donation of $1,000 means a yard sign will pop up in donor's yards.

Not A Rosy Picture

Still, with dollars drying up from Sacramento, the overall financial outlook remains bleak.

The Board passed its 2012-13 budget Tuesday, operating under the assumption that the November tax initiatives will fail. This saddles the District with an additional loss of about $450 per student each year, on top of the massive cuts already incurred since 2007.  

Board member Andrew Blumenfeld pointed out that after November, the District will need to take immediate steps to secure additional funding to keep LCUSD solvent. The current reserves cannot sustain the District through these state cuts beyond the 2013-2014 school year.  

"While the current budget is not a pretty one, it will have to suffice until we are certain of the outcome of the November elections, and can strategize accordingly,'' he wrote in his Education Action Committee newsletter. 


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