What is the Colchester Learning Foundation?
The Colchester Learning Foundation (CLF) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of a diverse board of volunteers – parents, empty-nesters, business people, retirees, educators and others who are committed to strengthening educational opportunities within the community.
What is the Foundation’s purpose?
The purpose of Colchester Learning Foundation is to support and promote innovative and creative educational opportunities for community residents of all ages. The Foundation will support and encourage learning in Colchester by:
* Fostering community wide passion for learning through new and extraordinary learning, artistic, and cultural experiences;
* Offering financial support to educational programs that are unique, enriching and innovatively enhance the curriculum and our community; and
* Providing the public with an avenue to show support for learning through targeted gifts, honor and memorial contributions, and other donations.
What kinds of programs might the Colchester Learning Foundation sponsor?
The types of programs that the Colchester Learning Foundation plans to support will benefit Colchester residents of all ages and take place both within and outside of Colchester Public schools. Within the schools, funds to be distributed by are not intended to replace or relieve the existing responsibility for public funding of school programs, nor are they intended to substitute for regular budget growth and maintenance.
CLF initiatives will generally fall into one of three broad categories with distribution of funds approximately estimated to be split between Classroom Initiatives (50%), School Programming (25%), and Community-wide Programming (25%). Examples of discussed activities that may be financially supported may include (but are not limited to) the following for each category:
Classroom Initiatives
a.) mini grants to support innovative learning
b.) mini grants to bring in hands-on learning activities to support approved
curriculum (i.e. science kits)
c.) mini grants for special classroom purchases to support approved curriculum
d.) enriching after-school instruction and activities
e.) financial support of fields trips to support approved curriculum
f.) school clubs
g.) technology enhancements
h.) school-readiness programming
i.) reading initiatives (i.e. summer reading program)
j.) financing of various departments and programs of the Colchester Public Schools
School Programming
a.) cultural presentations
b.) one time or annual events such as a spelling bee, career day, science fair
c.) educational presentations
d.) guest authors, science, social studies speakers
Community-wide Programming
a.) arts and cultural presentations or performances
b.) symposiums
c.) educational speakers, authors, historians
d.) book discussions, other family literacy initiatives
e.) nature trails/ ecology center
An initial goal is to issue ten (10) mini grants of approximately $500-$1500 to classrooms in the town of Colchester to affect the 2009-2010 academic year. Mini-grants would be used to launch new, innovative teaching programs in K-12 classrooms, support extraordinary projects/initiatives, or purchase supplies to bring hand-on learning experiences to support approved curriculum. The programming, projects, and supplies that the mini-grants are outside standard curriculum and would support would be otherwise unavailable due to budget constraints.
Why does Colchester need a Foundation to support education?
CLF recognizes that learning is a lifelong process and that presenting learning opportunities to residents of all ages has a benefit to individuals, families, and society as a whole. Additionally, learning foundations:
* Allow schools and communities to offer a breadth of programs what would not otherwise be available due to budget shortfalls through augmentation of municipal and school budgets
* Engage new partners and deepen community support for learning.
* Provide tax-deductible opportunities to support educating Colchester residents
* Promote public/private partnerships and enable Colchester citizens to benefit from corporate grants and matching gifts.
Will the foundation’s work increase our school or town budget and, therefore, our taxes?
No. The foundation was formed precisely because people have recognized that it is increasingly difficult to expand funding levels necessary to bring exciting educational opportunities to our town and schools through municipal funding. CLF will therefore seek other sources of financing to augment public funds.
Where does the Foundation get its funds?
The CLF seeks donations from individuals, businesses, private and public grant sources and through fundraising activities. The entire budget of the foundation will be raised privately from sources committed to excellence in education for our community.
What is the Foundation’s relationship with the Board of Education?
The Foundation is a non-political entity independent of both the Board of Education and the schools. The Foundation may supplement current school board priorities but it is not a substitute for them, nor is the Foundation simply a routine alternative funding source for the schools. The CLF seeks to seed promising pilot projects and encourage innovation in teaching and learning. The Foundation will not fund items and programs considered to be a normal part of the annual school budget. The Superintendent of Schools and a BOE member serve ex-officio without voting privilege to provide input on current educational trends and ensure that CLF funded programs are consistent with the mission of Colchester Public Schools.
Is the idea for an Education Foundation unique to Connecticut?
No. There are currently over 80 established education foundations in Connecticut with 20 more in the organizing process. Since 1978 over 3,000 communities across the country have established educational foundations with similar missions. From Maine to California they have raised millions of dollars to enrich the curriculum, improve teacher education and create partners-in-education projects. More information on education foundations in Connecticut can be found at the Connecticut Consortium of Education Foundations website at http://www.ctcef.org/.
What is the history of the Colchester Learning Foundation?
The Colchester Learning Foundation (CLF) Board of Directors was established in September of 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Board of Directors completed the steps required to file for IRS tax exempt status, including state incorporation, approval of by-laws, and establishment of a bank account. The Colchester Learning Foundation received Federal recognition as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization in February 2009 and is excited to start making an impact on the community soon.
How can members of the community benefit from the foundation?
We view education not as something narrowly restricted to our schools, but as involving children and adults of all ages in a variety of settings. Our programs will seek to be of benefit to the community as a whole. Each proposed project will be evaluated for its potential impact on the entire community and for possible avenues for collaboration between the Foundation and existing community groups.
How can I become a supporter?
Individuals, businesses, community groups, and civic organizations are invited to become supporters with a tax-deductible contribution that can be matched by several area employers. Volunteers and pro-bono services are always welcome. Also, the CLF Board of Directors may be seeking new members.
Please mail a tax-deductible donation today. Our community is worth the investment.
