By Janet Brownell
The Orcas Island Education Foundation is looking for 1,000 generous donors. Last week, the Orcas Island School District had to make $120,000 in mid-year cuts. Some of this was because of a drop in enrollment, some of this has to do with state cuts to such programs as OASIS. The reductions in the district were across the board and touched students in a so many aspects of their school day.
Fortunately, OIEF has been able to fund the library through the rest of the year. But that was only one cut. OIEF is now looking to fund the other cuts. (See list) Teacher Kari Schuh saw the big hole in which the OISD found itself and wondered if there was a way to back fill this deficit with many smaller donations. She came up with the “$100 Campaign.” (Editor’s note: See Kari Schuh’s comment following this column)If there were a thousand donors – parents, friends, friends of friends, aunts-uncles-grandparents – who could give $100 each – most of the mid-year cuts could be mitigated.
OIEF has taken on the “$100 Campaign” idea and is looking for those 1,000 donors. When you give $100, you are helping to bring back a Para-pro who works with a Special Ed student. Or you are helping to keep a bus route that may otherwise have to be cut. You may even help keep the elementary secretary available when that 2nd grader needs some extra TLC. You can send your donation to the $100 Campaign by mailing it to: OIEF – POB 782 – Eastsound – WA 98245. Or by going on-line to: https://www.oief.org/donate.html (Editor’s note: Or click on the link to OIEF in the sidebar on this page)
While I could take credit for the idea of 1000 people donating $100 each, I cannot. Orcas Elementary and Middle School Principal, Kyle Freeman, was the brilliant soul who thought up this call to action plan. I merely posted the request on my Facebook page after sending OIEF $100 through the very easy option of using the Paypal button. See below:
“Looking for 1000 people to donate $100 to help Orcas Public Schools save peoples jobs, transportation options, and more. I donated my $100 by going to OIEF’s website and picking the second button, general fund. Easy to do with my PayPal account. Your donation is tax deductible plus you can designate where exactly to send your money. Please re-post and pay it forward. Thanks”
OIEF – How to Donate
http://www.oief.org
You may now make donations through our web site using a credit card or PayPal. You do not need to have a PayPal account. Just click below on the type of donation you would like to make.
“Lots of people are losing their jobs or 1-2/day time on the job. Reductions include bussing, paraeducators, office staff, maintenance, janitors, and so much more. Still need people to hit that D-O-N-A-T-E button + $100 = Helping kids and Orcas schools.
If you cannot afford to donate at least spread the word amongst your FB friends. Every little bit is helpful.”
Thanks Janet and OIEF-
The link to the list does not appear to be working,(Editor’s note: this link was corrected and now works but there are many important parts of the school that need specified funding to finish out the year. I encourage those who understand the importance of keeping our kids engaged through sports and physical activity to pledge their $100 to OIEF and designate it as “Spring Sports”. The Booster club will be racing to fill a huge gap that was eliminated from the budget at the beginning of the year. Your funding will help keep over 50 kids involved in programs that encourage physical activity, promote teamwork and unity and require academic excellence. Orcas athletes are some of the highest academic achievers and Orcas Spring Sports consistently send more athletes on to play at the college level than any other program. Let’s help continue that level of success!
Kari, and Kyle great work! Thank you for being creative and bringing solutions to our school. I appreciate the invitation approach to allow those that can afford to participate and being respectful to those that might not feel they can.