Board president and superintendent help IPSF kick off its latest fundraising campaign

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The Irvine Public Schools Foundation has kicked off its latest campaign to raise money for local schools, with every dollar received to be matched by the City of Irvine.

IUSD Board of Education President Michael Parham and Superintendent Terry Walker expressed their support for the effort in an Oct. 22 email to the community, noting that the funds “will make a difference where it matters most – in the classroom.” Proceeds from the campaign will once again be used to provide support at both the elementary and secondary levels. In elementary schools, that means the addition of qualified instructional assistants, increasing the amount of one‐on‐one interaction with students. In middle and high schools, class‐size support funds will increase staffing hours, reducing student‐to‐teacher ratios in critical subjects. In the modern era of budget cuts, this has been a pretty impactful program for the district, and in fact Irvine principals weighed in on the benefits a couple years back. You can read their testimonials here. And here’s the full text of the letter from board President Parham and Superintendent Walker:

Dear IUSD community member:

As you’re probably aware, California’s fiscal crisis has forced the Irvine Unified School District to make nearly $40 million worth of reductions in recent years, and uncertainties continue to mount at the state level.

But the good news is there’s a local organization that’s working hard on our behalf, marshaling its resources and leveraging our community’s generosity to help maintain IUSD’s standing as a world-class school system.

Chances are you’ve already heard of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, which raises money for our schools and facilitates a number of innovative programs. Well, IPSF is off and running this year with a new campaign, and the City of Irvine has offered to match each donation. That means if you donate a dollar to IPSF, the City will kick in an additional dollar, potentially generating close to $2 million.

These funds can make a difference where it matters most – in the classroom. At the elementary level, proceeds from this campaign will pay for qualified instructional assistants, increasing the amount of one‐on‐one interaction. In our middle and high schools, class‐size support funds will provide additional staffing hours, thereby reducing student‐to‐teacher ratios in critical subjects. In addition, IPSF supports music education for students in kindergarten through grade six, as well as grants that enable our teachers and counselors to leverage new technologies and 21st century learning strategies.

Though any amount is appreciated, IPSF and IUSD are asking you to consider a tax-deductible contribution of $365 – or $1 per day – by the end of the calendar year. We know this is a lot to ask, particularly during these challenging economic times. But this revenue will make an immediate impact in our classrooms.

Keep in mind that IPSF is the only organization with the reach and resources to impact every school – and every child – in our district. If you’ve ever considered making a contribution to preserve excellence in the classroom, or even to help maintain the property values that are linked to our schools’ performance, now is the time.

To make a donation, or to learn more about the partnership between IUSD, IPSF and the City of Irvine, please visit the foundation’s website by clicking here.

As always, thank you for supporting education in Irvine.

Michael Parham                                 Terry L. Walker President, Board of Education              Superintendent of Schools