Source: http://delmartimes.net/archives/archive3.php?section=news#edfound
By Jim Kerr
With questions lingering over declining contributions and mixed messages from the school board over its fundraising role, the Del Mar Schools Education Foundation's board has nonetheless dismissed a notion by its president Bob Gans that the organization might need to temporarily suspend operations.
Gans, has expressed growing concerns of late over the viability of the foundation, which raises funds for enrichment programs in the Del Mar Union School District. At the foundation's May 6 meeting, he asked his fellow board members to closely reexamine their role.
"I want this to be a frank, open and positive discussion," said Gans at the meeting, "but everyone remember why we are here รข€” for our kids.
"I'm not proposing dissolving or liquidating our assets," Gans continued, "I think it would be difficult to ever start this organization up again. But we might look at suspending operations until there is a better understanding and consensus of our role in the district."
Gans cited several contributing factors for the possible suspension of operations such as controversies over the resignation of both the district's superintendent Tom Bishop and school board member Linda Crawford, a drop in fundraising totals including an 80 percent drop in revenue from the foundation's main fundraising event, and questions over the district accepting donations for additional enrichment staffing at school sites beyond those allocated by the district without regard to whether a school site met its fundraising goal
"I think it is irresponsible of us not to examine suspension," he said.
The relationship between the foundation and the school district has of late, become an often-confusing mix of legal opinions, staffing formulas and current and future year funding issues. This after a thorough vetting of that relationship last year, following parent complaints over the foundation's transparency and overhead including a rather large salary paid to a former executive director.
The current board headed by Gans has touted a new era of openness with the ability to transfer 100 percent of parent donations to the district without expense deductions.
But questions still remain including the latest swirling through the district over whether so-called enrichment programs in subjects such as science, art, music and technology should be considered regular core programs (the district hires certain numbers of those teachers anyway based on school populations). The district recently announced the formation of an enrichment task force to examine many of the latest enrichment issues. Adding to foundation's dilemmas is seven of 16 board positions are set to expire next month including that of Gans himself.
But despite the uncertainties, there was little support at last week's foundation board meeting for suspending operations.
Board member John Logan characterized the current year as one of rebuilding.
"The discussion to suspend is premature," said Logan. "It is a macro economy environment we are in and most fundraising organizations are having trouble. I don't think we need more negative PR"
"I think ultimately it would sound the death knell for this organization," said board member Jay Lichter. 'I think it would be almost impossible to restart if we did suspend operations. If we truly think we don't get enough money from the state, this organization has to exist."
Lichter, who said his private sector business involves assisting startup companies, compared the foundation to such a business,
"The first year of a startup business is very difficult," he said. 'This is a new business model and we still raised over $500,000. Even in the face of turmoil we still raised a lot of money. We have plenty of years to try different things to make this work."
Lichter suggested the board might hire an event coordinator to assist with next year's fundraising events, a notion that received some support among members.
"The new board may want to tweak some things," added Logan.
"This was a valuable discussion we had," said Gans in closing the meeting, "and I see there is commitment here.
'I don't want there to be any doubt throughout this that I am incredibly proud of this organization," he said. "You've done a tremendous job rebuilding the trust of this community and we've acted openly and transparently. The communication with the community has been great, but I think there has been a lack of communication with the district."
Gans, who has been very public with his frustration with the district and was denied last week in an attempt to earn a seat on the school board (see accompanying front page story) hasn't said whether he will return to the foundation. He couldn't help wondering about the organization's future ability to fundraise.
"In that first appeal letter to parents, what do you say given the current state of things?" he asked. "But then maybe it's just not my issue.
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