PUSD to establish nonprofit
Author: Monica Rodriguez , Staff Writer
POMONA - Pomona Unified School District may soon have an educational foundation that could help raise funds to support educational programs.
School board members approved the concept of establishing a nonprofit foundation earlier this month and authorized district personnel to begin working on the details leading to the creation of the organization.
The proposed foundation, which would be known as Partners for Educational Excellence and Knowledge, would be under the control of the district.
School board members approved the concept of establishing a nonprofit foundation earlier this month and authorized district personnel to begin working on the details leading to the creation of the organization.
The proposed foundation, which would be known as Partners for Educational Excellence and Knowledge, would be under the control of the district.
It would have a board of directors with at least five members that "would be appointed by the (school) board and could be removed by the (school) board," said Kasey Haws, the school district's lawyer.
District Superintendent Richard Martinez said his goal is to have proposed by-laws and a proposed charter ready to be presented to the school board in May and have the foundation ready to begin operating by June.
The foundation will carry out the kind of work that foundations in other districts do, which is to raise funds that are then used to support educational programs in the district, Martinez said.
The educational foundation concept is not new in Pomona.
The Pomona Valley Educational Foundation, which was dissolved last year, was a controversial entity that frequently drew criticism from district residents for its involvement in purchasing property and because there was little information available to them about its operations.
Those familiar with the entity have said it was an organization that did good work and was trying to prepare for the long-term needs of the district by acquiring property eventually used for educational uses.
Board member Roberta Perlman is among those who had questions about the Pomona Valley Educational Foundation.
The proposed foundation will be far different, Perlman said.
"We are going to be completely transparent," Perlman said Tuesday, adding the mission of this new entity will be to support students and families.
She said will be watching the proposed foundation carefully.
The proposed foundation will have to present an annual report, and its meetings will be subject to the state's opening meeting laws, Haws said.
In addition, the proposed foundation will have up to two school board members as ex-officio members of the board of directors, Martinez said.
The goal is to have the fundraising efforts of the foundation line up with the priorities of the school district, he said.
School board member Jason Rothman said foundations have had great success in other school districts.
They are "a great way for the community to show support for the school district," Rothman said.
Perlman said in a period of budget cuts a foundation can be of great help.
Board member Andrew Wong said the school district must explore all options for paying for programs during these financially challenging times.
"I think the educational foundation is important in our look to find alternative ways to fund programs," Wong said.
A proposed foundation is an important means through which the district may be able to offset some of the budget cuts it must make, he said.
Parents, business people and others in the community have expressed a desire to support the district and its students and this may provide a way for them to so, Wong said.
District Superintendent Richard Martinez said his goal is to have proposed by-laws and a proposed charter ready to be presented to the school board in May and have the foundation ready to begin operating by June.
The foundation will carry out the kind of work that foundations in other districts do, which is to raise funds that are then used to support educational programs in the district, Martinez said.
The educational foundation concept is not new in Pomona.
The Pomona Valley Educational Foundation, which was dissolved last year, was a controversial entity that frequently drew criticism from district residents for its involvement in purchasing property and because there was little information available to them about its operations.
Those familiar with the entity have said it was an organization that did good work and was trying to prepare for the long-term needs of the district by acquiring property eventually used for educational uses.
Board member Roberta Perlman is among those who had questions about the Pomona Valley Educational Foundation.
The proposed foundation will be far different, Perlman said.
"We are going to be completely transparent," Perlman said Tuesday, adding the mission of this new entity will be to support students and families.
She said will be watching the proposed foundation carefully.
The proposed foundation will have to present an annual report, and its meetings will be subject to the state's opening meeting laws, Haws said.
In addition, the proposed foundation will have up to two school board members as ex-officio members of the board of directors, Martinez said.
The goal is to have the fundraising efforts of the foundation line up with the priorities of the school district, he said.
School board member Jason Rothman said foundations have had great success in other school districts.
They are "a great way for the community to show support for the school district," Rothman said.
Perlman said in a period of budget cuts a foundation can be of great help.
Board member Andrew Wong said the school district must explore all options for paying for programs during these financially challenging times.
"I think the educational foundation is important in our look to find alternative ways to fund programs," Wong said.
A proposed foundation is an important means through which the district may be able to offset some of the budget cuts it must make, he said.
Parents, business people and others in the community have expressed a desire to support the district and its students and this may provide a way for them to so, Wong said.
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