 For 28 years, the Lafayette Arts & Science Foundation has been an active force in our community. A private, nonprofit education foundation run by volunteers, LASF provides top-quality curriculum-based programs and support in the areas of science, math, history, writing, foreign language, technology, art, and music to the students of all of Lafayette's public schools. LASF K8 Budget Engagement Presentation, 1/10/2010 Today we are here to discuss the financial position and choices of our K8 school district, and my role, in all of this, is on the funding side. As an LASF representative, I’m here to lay out for you
The mission of LASF has not changed since it was founded 30 years ago. Our mission is to “support and enrich the education of every child in the Lafayette public schools through a broad community-based effort.” The operative words here are SUPPORT, ENRICH and COMMUNITY.
LASF fills its mission by raising funds, developing and delivering curriculum to the schools, funding district-delivered programs and services, and providing funding directly to the districts for any area of need that falls within our broad funding scope. Who determines what and how much is needed? The experts in education – the school districts. We look to the districts to set priorities and define needs. We in turn provide the dollars and we deliver the programs and services that the districts have determined we can optimally provide. For our donors, we provide the modicum of security that the hallmarks of a well-rounded education, things like art, music and science, will be preserved, and that when times are really tough, the fundamentals of a solid education, such as adequate aides and manageable class size, will be preserved. .As for how we distribute funds, it is very simple. Our philosophy is that we support every child. That means we distribute funds proportionately across the high school and K8 districts based on the relative number of students in the districts. So last year, for example, the high school district received 27.5% of funding whereas the K8 district received 72.5%. This funding was allocated for academic programs as follows:
These dollars were spent on LASF instructors, district teachers and support staff, curriculum development, equipment and supplies, and teacher professional development. As for fundraising, over the past five years, LASF has grown its revenues from $835 thousand in 2005 to $1.2 million last year. This year, for obvious reasons, we set a stretch goal of $1.5 million. At present, we have raised $990 thousand in actual donations and $158 thousand in additional pledges for a total of $1.15 million dollars. This leaves us with a current shortfall of $350 thousand dollars. This shortfall will result in spending cuts this school year or a greater deficit, depending on how our Superintendents choose to manage it – neither is attractive. Why do we have this shortfall? There are a couple of reasons: Of our 3,168 K-12 families, only half have made their donation; and Some families have donated less this year than in the past, which is understandable in this economy. On the bright side, some families have increased their donation, and we do have many new donors this year, in response to our “Every dollar counts” campaign. And we still have time. We are asking families who have not yet given to make their donation. If the 50% of families who have not yet donated gave $220 dollars – that is less than one half of the LASF ask for one child, we would meet our goal. We are asking families who have given to donate more, if they can. We also invite you all to attend the LASF Annual Event next Saturday, January 30th, and to bid at our silent auction and purchase raffle tickets. However you choose to give, to make up the difference, we need your contributions now. Thank you. The Burton Valley LASF Team:
For more information about the Lafayette Arts and Science Foundation, please visit their website. |