Schools

District, Foundation Continue Discussion About Full Time Employee

A proposal to partner to hire a full-time foundation employee may have to wait as the district deals with other issues.

The Saline Area Schools district and Foundation for Saline Area Schools continue to talk about a proposal to partner in funding a full-time foundation staff position.

On Monday, Saline school board trustees Lisa Slawson and Amy Cattell met with foundation trustees Reid Paxton and Dennis Valenti to discuss the foundation's proposal. The proposal is for the distrct to allocate $50,000 annually for three years. The foundation would match that allocation. The idea is to take the foundation, largely driven by volunteers, to the next level with professional fundraising and marketing. The position would coordinate and grow activities that have raised $260,000 for Saline Area Schools over the last three years.

School officials say they see the value in strengthening the foundation.

“We want to keep the conversation going. The sustainability of the Foundation for Saline Area Schools is critica! to the success of Saline Area Schools," said Slawson, President of the Board of Education. "Their support in the form of both strategic and teacher grants has been a vital component in helping to continue to develop innovative programs for our students.”

The Foundation for Saline Area Schools recently presented the district with a check for $70,000 to support the "Kids Who Read... Succeed” strategic grant. The funds will be used to develop ciassroom libraries to better address the iiteracy needs of the students throughout the district.

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“The conversation was a good one but the foundation is mindful that the board of education has several pressing issues on its plate this summer," said Foundation for Saline Area Schools Trustee Reid Paxton. "We think it in the best interest of both parties to keep the lines of communication open but hold off on detailed conversations about a potential partnership until the immediate budget and collective bargìning issues are resolved.”

No timetable has been set to bring the proposal to back to the full board of education for potential action.


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