Letter to the Editor: Help Education Foundation help Orcas schools

Dear Parents,

Amidst challenging times, it is heartening to focus on the good so apparent in our community.

Last year, private donations underwrote funding for High School British Literature, Writing, Film as Literature, Literature 2, and AP Calculus. Funding the Middle and High School this way helped to minimize program cuts in the Elementary School and allowed a part of elementary school music to continue.

The excellent academic opportunities available at Orcas Public Schools were recognized by U.S. World and News Reports magazine as the High School was awarded one of “America’s Best High Schools – Silver medal winner.”  Coach Dennis Dahl received a lifetime achievement award from the Washington State Football Coaches Association.

Looking to the next school year, we anticipate the need for private donations to be even more essential.  State funding for public education is directly impacted by our State’s economy.  The cuts to public education in next years’ state budget are substantial and will affect our district profoundly.  While our School Board has been engaged with Legislators this year to look for local and state solutions to fully fund basic education, in the face of an 8.5 billion dollar state deficit, it does not look this will be a reality any time soon.

While we may see additional Federal funds directed towards education through the Stimulus Package, it is anticipated that they will not be sufficient to make up the anticipated drop in State funds.  If anything, any donations you are able to make will have a more critical impact than ever in making quality education available for all Orcas children.

In the past two years, OIEF has been able to donate at least $100,000 directly to the school district for academic programming. This year we are about $30,000 shy. Please help us to reach our goal by donating what you can.  To donate, we have several options.  You can go to www.oief.org or you can check out our new national site at www.change.org/orcas_island_education_foundation. The change.org site features a bar that moves as donations come in. (Change.org is a social networking site, so if you would like to donate anonymously, please do that via OIEF’s web-site or by mail.) Tell your friends and families! We look forward to seeing that bar move!

Of course, people can still send money by check or credit card to PO Box 782, Eastsound, WA, 98245. Or donors can give to the Education Initiative held by the Community Foundation by contacting Hilary Canty @ 376-6423. Tell your friends and family-an Orcas public education is too valuable to lose!

Sincerely,

The Orcas Island Education Foundation Board