Foundation to help local schools

Acorn Staff Writer


Additional funding to help the financially strapped Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) won’t come from the state—California’s budget already has enough red ink—and it won’t come from the beleaguered federal government, either.


The answer to the district’s financial shortcomings could arrive from a different source altogether.


Parent volunteers Stuart Selter and Debbi Molnar are working on a plan to bring a former fundraising group called the Las Virgenes Education Foundation back to life. If successful, they could raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to meet growing school needs.


The foundation was formed as a nonprofit fundraising group in 1983, but later became the Las Virgenes Technology Foundation with an emphasis on computers and computer-related programs.


The Technology Foundation went dormant, however, so Selter and Molnar decided to bring the Education Foundation back to life and give the district’s fundraising machine a fresh start.


"We firmly believe our schools are our jewels," said Selter, who’s a coach, site councilmember and parent-faculty club volunteer at Agoura High School. "This will be a win-win for everybody."


Selter and Molnar have spent almost a year laying the groundwork for the new organization. The LVUSD Board of Education approved the fundraising group at a special meeting last week.


Molnar, a parent volunteer at Bay Laurel Elementary School who also has professional fundraising experience, said she has asked the district’s 13 schools to provide a needs’ assessment. While some schools might require money for the arts, others could use donations for technology, counseling services or educational programs.


Agoura High might seek a new performing arts center, according to Selter.


"I found the needs of the schools were so different that wouldn’t it be great to have a foundation within Las Virgenes to help all of the different programs," Molnar said.


"The foundation is not meant to be political in any way. By that, we mean the foundation board [of directors] will not be deciding which projects to fund and what not to fund. Each site will decide what its needs are, and after approval from the [school] district, the foundation will look for the funding that is desired."


Molnar expects money to arrive from special events, corporate sponsorships and public and private grants.


The foundation’s board of directors and advisory board will include members skilled in obtaining grants, or in legal matters or community relations.


"I’m really excited about this whole concept," said Cindy Iser, a member of the school board.


Iser said the Education Foundation would take school fundraising to a new level.


"If we just look at the foundation as an adjunct to the PFCs [parent faculty clubs], that’s not enough. "We have so many more resources we can hit," she said.


Selter agreed.


"The foundation should be complementary to and in addition to what’s already being done at the sites … It’s knowing when to lead and when to follow that’s helped a lot of other foundations."


School Board President Pat Schulz said that unlike 20 years ago when the foundation first began, the Las Virgenes area didn’t have the large businesses that it does today. She hopes more doors will be open to the fundraisers when they once again start knocking.


After the school needs are identified, that’s when the work begins, but Selter and Molnar believe they’re up to the task.


"Everybody needs to buy into this thing and everybody needs to be a part," Molnar said.





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