Bellevue’s annual Spring for Schools benefit luncheon is fast approaching.
The annual event hosted by the Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) helps raise funds in support of districtwide academic rigor, student support and teacher excellence. Last year, the luncheon brought in a record-breaking $554,000 for the Bellevue School District. The 21st annual Spring for Schools luncheon will take place on June 4 at the Meydenbauer Center.
With the recent announcement of teacher reductions and reassignments due to budget cuts, the funding necessary for additional academic programs, tutoring, and materials is needed more than ever.
At the May 11 school board meeting, Interim Superintendent Karen Clark said the district plans to cut 60 FTE certificated instructional staff, two administrative positions and eight classified positions in response to the funding shortfall from the state.
“We tried to make these decisions to preserve teachers as best we can, but it’s not without a cost,” said Bellevue School Board member Judy Bushnell. We have the luncheon coming up. This is a chance for people who can step forward to give, she added.
According to the district Web site, the state funding reduction that affects the district most negatively is a $5 million loss of I-728 funding, a voter-approved initiative to reduce class sizes. The district expects class sizes to increase on average by 1.6 students in K-5 and by 1.4 students in middle and high school.
The donations from the Spring for School luncheon will be allocated by the BSF for specific needs in the district.
Since 1979, the BSF has raised more than $17.4 million for Bellevue schools. The donations are used to help improve student learning through districtwide academic initiatives and programs designed to meet students’ special needs. Roughly 10,000 donors have contributed to the BSF over the years.
Last year, the $1.4 million raised by the BSF helped enable middle and high school students experience an improved language arts curriculum with a focus on acquiring a skill in nonfiction writing.
Additional funds from the foundation support the ongoing development of a three-year physics-biology-chemistry curriculum.
The foundation also uses the funds to help schools with a high percentage of students from low-income families. The funds support after school reading programs, math clubs, and summer high school for incoming 9th graders.
It also helps underwrite underwriting National Board Certification fees, mentoring support, and professional videotaping of portfolios for teachers.
The non-profit foundation is located at the Bellevue School District Education Service Center, 12111 N.E. First Street, Suite 320.
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.
More information: http://www.bsfdn.org/Events/springforschools.asp or call 425.456.4199.
