Malibu Elementary Schools Scramble To Raise $275K
MALIBU, CA —Malibu Elementary School and Webster Elementary School, Malibu’s two elementary schools, have launched an emergency fundraising campaign to raise $275,000 for teacher’s aides and arts and technology education.
The schools have always needed to partially fund these programs themselves, because they are considered supplementary to the standard curriculum budget. However, in past years, the schools were typically able to raise about 30% of the total cost, and the Santa Monica-Malibu United School District backfilled the remaining 70%.
This year, however, the district is not currently in a position to backfill those costs. It was already deficit spending for years, according to spokesperson Gail Pinsker, and found itself in an even deeper hole due to lost revenue from sales taxes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a possible 10% reduction in state funds.
The PTAs of Malibu and Webster Elementary Schools have already raised $105,300, around 30% of the total cost of teacher’s aides, arts programs, and PlanetBravo, a technology education program. The two schools were also planning to host an auction, jog-a-thon, and book fair that had to be canceled due to COVID.
Without crucial sources of revenue, the schools are faced with the daunting prospect of having to raise $275,000 by July 31 to avoid losing invaluable programs – Malibu Elementary School principal Chris Hertz said that he’s especially concerned about the prospect of permanently losing teacher’s aides at a time when they are especially needed to help young children learn online – the two PTAs have launched the SOS Campaign to raise the money.
They have launched a Direct Drive for funds, which allows anyone to donate on the school’s websites at websterpta.com or malibuelementary.org. From July 17 to 26, the schools are hosting a joint online auction. So far, available items include two tickets and a backstage pass to a Jimmy Buffet concert, a Lake Tahoe vacation, the opportunity to be the mayor of Malibu for a day, and a consultation with architect Lorcan O’Herlihy. To donate an item, email either websterptamalibu@gmail.comor pta@malibuelementary.org.
School officials and PTA members have conceded that now is a difficult time to fundraise for Malibu public schools. The schools face stiff competition from private schools, and a combination of the coronavirus pandemic, rebuilding from the Woolsey Fire, and still uncertain plans for next year – the district says it will release its complete plans for 2020-21 on July 16 – all create an uphill battle.
"In the face of such an arduous task in the midst of so much turmoil for our community, it's been such an amazing experience to team up with the smart parents across our schools, other fundraising organizations in the district and our district leadership to quickly formulate and activate a plan,” said Karin Al-Hardin, president of the Webster Elementary School PTA.
“Our instructional aides and programs are so important to our elementary school children and their future success, we are all doing everything in our power to raise these funds."
This article originally appeared on the Malibu Patch
