North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, Kyle Magin
Community financial support helps fund new printers, an elementary gym teacher, dances or new athletic uniforms and more, for the Incline Village schools.
Those dollars of support get to different schools in a variety of different ways — here’s a look at how it all works.
Multiple agencies benefit the schools, including the Incline Middle School Junior Boosters, the Incline High School Boosters, the Incline Elementary PTA, Incline Schools Academic Excellence Foundation and Incline Star Follies.
Follies, the yearly community lip-synch show, distributes the money made from ticket sales at the event in a few different ways. First, a small portion of the take is distributed to the ISAEF endowment fund. Next, the funds are split between the public schools according to population, said event organizer Ron Stichter.
“We give the money to the principals to spend at their discretion and then have them report back to our board as a way to stay accountable,” Stichter said.
In the past, Follies’ funds have gone to pay for technological updates such as monitors, software, projectors and various miscellaneous items such as flags for the Junior ROTC program.
Money from the High School Boosters goes to support more than just athletics, said President Shelia Leijon.
“Our motto is we want to benefit more than one child for more than one year,” Leijon said.
The Boosters focus on providing sustainable resources for the classroom and playing field.
Money collected from the Boosters’ signature event — the annual crab feed — and individual donations goes to fund a number of expenses at IHS. The Boosters brought in $57,000 last year.
About $2,000 went to fund the Every 15 Minutes alcohol awareness program, $1,000 went to the high school art program and $4,600 went to the ski team for equipment, among a number of others.
Teachers may also apply for funds for special events, and each year a set amount of money is distributed to athletic coaches as seed money for each team’s fundraisers.
Leijon said the best way to get involved is to become a booster member, volunteer for the Crab Feed dinner or help to man the concession stand at athletic events. To get involved call Leijon at (775) 831-0366.
The Middle School Junior Boosters yearly put on a Halloween dance for the student body at IMS in addition to a few other activities.
“In addition we provide volunteer and monetary support for various school activities including the annual Spelling Bee, the Math Counts program and the eighth grade promotion celebration,” President Kathie Goldberg wrote in an e-mail to the Bonanza. “We also sponsor “Bring a Special Person to School Day” in November and Staff Appreciation Week in May.”
Goldberg said teachers may approach the Jr. Boosters on a case-by-case basis to receive funds.
Last year, Goldberg said, the group donated money to the IMS Wrestling program for wrestling equipment at the school.
Donations to the Jr. Boosters may be sent to 931 Southwood Blvd. Incline Village, NV 89451 and those interested in getting involved may contact Goldberg at kathie_goldberg@yahoo.com.
The Incline Elementary PTA is the major reason IES students have a physical education teacher, which is not funded through the school district.
Each year the school hosts the Jog-A-Thon to support that position, and last year the PTA brought in about $50,000. Proceeds for this year’s event, which took place in late September, are yet to be tabulated.
Other programs the group supports include the Meet the Masters Art program for all six elementary grades, the annual Science and Inventor’s Fair, the Reflections Fine Arts contest and the End of School Book Giveaway. In addition, IES PTA sponsor events such as Kindergarten Welcome, Field Day, school assemblies and teacher and staff appreciation week. To get involved contact president Joan Skelly at jskelly@nvbell.net.
ISAEF’s main goal is to raise money for an endowment fund, said chairman Bill Horn. The fund is currently worth more than $130,000.
“Our primary goal is to develop that endowment fund,” Horn said.
The end goal is to raise the fund to $1.5 million, by, Horn said jokingly, the time he retires from IVGID’s general manager position.
It also provides immediate funds to the school, giving out $12,000 in 2007 for tutoring and teacher-improvement projects. Its major fundraisers include Golf fore Education, The Monster Ball and last weekend’s Oktoberfest.
To get involved or to donate, interested parties may contact Horn at (775) 832-1206.
