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Education

In a down economy, everyone feels the crunch, and school districts are no exception. More and more, schools are seeking creative ways to finance the various student enrichment programs that budgets just can’t cover. Such programs are crucial in helping prepare students for the competitive world they will grow into. In the past, such programs were helped by parent and student groups setting up bake sales and car washes, but the need for bigger and better programs has called for even bigger and better efforts.

Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 has gone outside the usual funding routes, creating an Educational Foundation that allows for larger donations, thereby increasing services to its students.

The Foundation officially began about two years ago, although a design team consisting of school district administrators and community members actually began planning for it a year earlier. As the idea grew, so have the plans, and last year about 30 volunteers consisting of teachers, administrators, parents and business leaders began brainstorming for the bigger picture: a three-to-five-year plan.

According to Lori Smith, vice chairman of the Board of Trustees in charge of Projects, it was important to have a widely varied group. “The response has been great from those who know we exist, but it’s been hard to reach everybody,” she says.

“We’re fairly well-known with the teachers and staff, but a lot of parents still don’t know about us—we’re still young. We spent the first year trying to establish a presence in the community as well as solicit funds.”

A not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, the Foundation allows the schools to seek outside funding for programs and equipment not provided for by traditional sources. In going the private route, the schools are able to approach businesses and community members for outside help in providing these extra educational experiences for the students.

Such a foundation is not limited to student growth, however. Funds from the foundation may also be used to provide opportunities for school district employees to expand their range of knowledge and experience, and thus return that gain to their classrooms. The Foundation organization allows for an entity separate from yet working with the school district, with the result being a better educational environment for all.

It also forges a tighter bond between the school district and the community, working with local organizations, business and industry.

The Foundation allows for grant and project possibilities to enhance the educational experience. Teacher Innovation Grants are generally classified as requests under $2,500, and include requests by teachers for money to implement an innovative classroom approach. These ideas may be designed for a specific class or lesson, but they may also set the stage for large-scale implementation in the future.

A grant might be used to purchase technology for a specific class or lesson. For example, a middle school drama teacher requested and received funds to purchase two camcorders for her students to record their dramatic performances and then edit them into short films. Such equipment will then be available to other teachers to use with their own class projects. In Spring of 2007, $6,500 was presented, allowing students to work in such areas as archaeology, music composition, video production, and small business development.

The Foundation also provides larger funds for projects over $2,500, and several large projects have been approved and are currently seeking funding. One such project is for $50,000 to upgrade broadcast journalism equipment for students who plan to pursue that field in college.

Such pre-college, hands-on experience gives students the background they need to compete in such a technology-based career. Another innovative project approved by the Foundation is the E-School Plus Home Module, which needs $25,000 to institute a data system that connects parents with their students’ individual information, from attendance to grades, allowing for a closer partnership between parent and school. In addition, $30,000 has been approved for portable video conferencing equipment that will be efficient and cost-effective.

Other areas of funding by the Foundation include artist in residence programs and a Youth Leadership Academy, partnered with the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We hope to have that up and going in the next year,” says Smith. Based on a model program offered in Rochester, New York, the Academy promotes student entrepreneurship, providing community business leaders mentoring students in small business skills.

As Smith puts it: “There are so many things schools need that are beyond the scope of what the district is able to provide, so it’s becoming more and more common throughout the country to establish these foundations to provide the educational experiences students need to compete in our global society.”

In Lake Zurich, the Foundation for those experiences is set and solid.