2007–08 CAMPAIGN: Fostering Excellence in Education

“Thanks to grants from the Foundation’s Bridge the Gap campaign, the equipment in our high school science labs is kept up to date in order to prepare our students for college science classes.” Foti Davlantis, ESHS chemistry teacher

Contributions to the 2007-2008 Fostering Excellence in Education campaign will support ESUSD’s technology, writing, AVID, MyAccess, music, P.E., and robotics programs.

The ESEF has pledged $450,000 to the ESUSD in the 2007-2008 school year to provide programs that would not be possible without the supplemental grant. Similar to the last campaign, this grant is earmarked for technology, writing, AVID, MyAccess, and music programs for the District’s 3,200 students. This year will once again, allocate funds for elementary physical education and a robotics program for middle and high school students to provide them with advanced instruction in science and engineering and introduce them to college and career options in related fields.

Your support makes a difference! We hope you will join us this school year as we help take education in El Segundo schools to the next level.

The following funding needs have been identified:

Technology – $215,000

• Network upgrades to be compatible with the new fiber optics line
• PowerSchool training for district personnel
• Implemention of an online student registration program (InfoSnap)
• Provide new student computer work stations and print stations in El Segundo High School.

Literacy and Communication Skills - $50,000

• AVID – an ESHS program designed to maximize students’ academic potential.
• MyAcess – a web-delivered writing instructional tool that coaches students in the development of their writing skills.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving – $30,000

• The Robotics Program will provide middle and high school students with instruction in science and engineering and will introduce them to college and career options in related fields.

Leadership – $5,000

• Link Crew – a structured transitional leadership program that engages the incoming 9th grade students in exciting and purposeful activities by introducing them to and pairing them with well-trained upper classmate mentors.

Health and Wellness – $150,000

• Physical education program at the elementary schools
• K-12 music programs

 

Please make your tax-deductible donation today.

Fostering Excellence in Education
The ESEF successfully completed its initial Fostering Excellence in Education campaign, which granted $300,000 to the El Segundo Unified School District in 2005-2006. The grant provided additional training and technical support for PowerSchool, new classroom computers, and introduced an “Instruction Sharing” program where digital video lessons are recorded for use by teachers and students. K-12 Art and Music programs were supported throughout the District as was the introduction of teacher participation in UCLA’s nationally acclaimed Writing Project in order to enhance instruction at all grade levels and better prepare El Segundo High School graduates for the rigors of collegiate English courses.

The 2006-2007 funding plan granted $500,000 to the El Segundo Unified School District (ESUSD) to support the essential components of a complete education: art and music programs, writing skills, physical education, technology enhancements throughout the ESUSD including equipment and support and training and a new robotics program that will improve middle, and high school student performance in math, science, and engineering and will introduce them to college and career options in related fields.

Bridge the Gap
A one-year campaign that inspired the community to help make up for state budget short-falls culminated on May 27, 2005, when the El Segundo Educational Foundation presented a $250,000 check to the El Segundo Unified School District. Our most ambitious fundraising effort to date challenged the community to help “Bridge the Gap” between state funding and actual educational costs in the ESUSD.

The $250,000 goal was reached just prior to the end of the school year. The grant provided new standards-based Language Arts textbooks for kindergarten through eighth graders, a modernized sound system and refurbished grand piano for the El Segundo High School auditorium, equipment for the high school’s new science building, and other technology requirements within the ESUSD.

Pledge to the Arts
The Foundation granted $140,000 in 2003-04 school year to save the elementary school art and music programs.

Endowment Fund
The Foundation created an Endowment Fund in 2002 to provide perpetual support to the ESUSD. The Foundation received two large gifts in 2004 and another large gift in 2007, bringing the current balance of the Fund to over $900,000.