Weekend fundraisers net $50,000 to retain laid-off teachers
June 16th, 2009 by tristan baurickBainbridge school supporters raised $50,000 over the weekend to save some teachers from being laid off.
Islanders washed cars, hosted a school dance, held a garage sale and collected donations to raise funds for the Bainbridge Schools Foundation’s “Save Our Teachers” campaign.
Foundation Executive Director Vicky Marsing called the effort “unbelievable.” The garage sale doubled organizers’ expectations, raising more than $22,000.
Marsing highlighted a couple small community contributions, including a local boy who played his saxophone at the garage sale for donations and an older gentleman with a vast wine collection who plans a wine-tasting to raise money. Parents have been making donations to the campaign instead of giving teachers end-of-the-year gifts, Marsing said.
The foundation is leading the campaign to save the jobs of teachers who were laid off by the district. Some jobs have been saved through retirements and leaves of absences, but eight teachers are still in jeopardy.
After this weekend, the campaign has $277,000 in donations and pledges. The district needs to raise about $550,000 more to rescind the remaining eight layoffs.
A “Save Our Teachers” rally held in Winslow on Saturday morning
attracted about 100 people, including many children and school
staff. The high school flag team and marching band were on hand, as
well as local attorney Patrick Sheldon, who was the featured
speaker.
-Kitsap Sun staff
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
June 18th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
How we have learned from our new president. Scream the sky is falling and a new tax can be created, voluntary or not. Considering that what won’t be correct by a normal attrition, a slight increase in class or even a belt tightening in other areas will be completely rectified by the Obamabucks coming to our state schools by way of the stimulus package. Yes, 600 million now and we can apply for another 300 million by the end of summer. All our island needs is a mere half a million to “Save Our Teachers”. Then all of the money nobly raised by the good people of our community might be used to save the whales or wallpaper the teacher’s lounge. Sometimes opening a checkbook is not the best way to deal with a crisis. Consider our seven then five million dollar tech levy that if not passed, our schools would surely have crumble into dust. I hope we find this same kind of enthusiasm when it is again time to vote on funding something might truly matter like the replacement of the 50 year Wilkes Elementary School.