By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
Cuts in both state and federal aid to education as well as a 2 percent cap on increases in school budgets in place since 2010 when Gov. Chris Christie came into office have made it difficult for public schools to provide all the programs and activities that school districts believe should be available to their students.
Over the last 10-15 years, approximately 200 of the 590 school districts in New Jersey have created educational foundations to provide needed, supplementary funds and programs for their students.In 2013, residents Natalie Warner and Assenka Oksiloff suggested that an educational foundation was needed in Roosevelt and provided information that led a group of community members to apply for an Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey (ELFNJ) grant.
The newly established Roosevelt Public School Education Foundation received a $5,000 grant from the ELFNJ. Members would go on to use the grant money to provide financial and technical support to help establish the new education foundation including covering all federal and state nonprofit filing fees for the foundation, administrative and insurance costs, and two years of training sessions on topics such as fundraising, strategic planning, and foundation program development.
The Roosevelt Public School Education Foundation is now an independent, private, nonprofit organization that works with the school district to provide funding for programs or purchases for the pre-kindergarten through 6 grade Roosevelt Public School that the school budget cannot afford. The board currently has six members.Foundation members explore a variety of avenues for raising funds, including grants. They also seek to partner with local organizations and businesses that support education through donations. They also hold fundraising events.
The foundation held its first fundraiser June 7 at Rockville Climbing Center in Hamilton. The event proved so popular with children and their parents that it is being considered as an annual event for the newly established foundation.
In March 2014, the foundation received a Toby Tyler Grant in the amount of $4,988 for fine arts education. The foundation used the grant to enhance Roosevelt Public School’s studio art program with the purchase of a kiln and ceramic and pottery supplies so students can make and fire hand-built pottery. As a result, students are actively involved in experiencing clay-modeling techniques and using those techniques to create sculpture, ceramic pieces, and pottery.
The foundation also recently received another grant.
”About three weeks ago we received a second check for $5,000 for our foundation from ELFNJ,” foundation member Anna Johnson said.
The letter from ELFNJ states, “On behalf of the ELFNJ, enclosed is the second installment of the School Foundation Initiative grant in the amount of $5,000. The two-year grant cycle ends on April 15, 2015. As all program requirements to date have been met, you may proceed with the second year of this initiative. Please remember that the funds are to be applied to travel expenses for training sessions; materials for your foundation’s board meetings, including paper, pens, coffee; marketing materials, and website support for the continuance of your education foundation…I wish you success in the second half of the grant program as you strengthen and improve the foundation work that was begun in this past year.”
According to Ms. Johnson, the foundation is currently working on designing a website that will be completed in September and is organizing a fundraiser for Sept. 5.
The foundation’s fundraising event on Friday, Sept. 5, will take place at 16 Tamara Drive in Roosevelt from 7-9 p.m. Wines that pair well with desserts, as well as a variety of homemade desserts including fresh fruit cobblers will be served. Tickets purchased in advance are $15; tickets are $20 at the door.
For advance tickets, call or text 973 508-7971 or mail a check to RPSEF, PO Box 22, Roosevelt, NJ 08555. Participants must be 21 or older.
Proceeds from the event will be used to support programs and materials for the students at Roosevelt Public School.
