Foundation enhances local education

In a school system beset by deep budget cuts, the Sisters Schools Foundation plays a vital role in shoring up the quality of education in Sisters.

The foundation distributed $35,457 to Sisters school programs this fall. The funds come from fundraising efforts and contributions from donors.

"We have a policy that we distribute funds from the prior fiscal year," said outgoing treasurer Rod Morris.

Teachers submit requests and principals vet them before submitting them to the foundation for review.

"We ask them to prioritize," Morris said. "This year, we had $90,000 in requests."

The foundation board winnows those requests down, setting aside those that may be funded elsewhere and then making decisions based on the longevity of the impact a distribution can make and "the number of students it's going to affect," Morris explained. A full list of grant criteria is available on the foundation's website at www.sistersschoolsfoundation.org.

The foundation, according to policy, has never funded salaries.

This year, the foundation supported the writing curriculum at Sisters Elementary School, funded math literature for first and second grades and a trip to the Sunriver Nature Center. The middle school received $3,950 for science data collection materials and $3,000 for a library Smart Board. The high school received funding of $4,240 for Google Chromebooks, Rosetta Stone software for Mandarin language, and funds for a glaze kiln.

The elementary school received funding to a total of $8,423; the middle school received $9,450 in total and Sisters High School was granted $15,084.

A full list of distributions may be found at www.sistersschoolsfoundation.org/php/distributions/2012.php.

The foundation recives support in a variety of ways. Over the years, the biggest fundraiser has been the concerts and other entertainment-based events staged under the umbrella of Starry Nights. Individual donors can contribute to the foundation and target their donations to specific programs. The foundation can also receive stocks.

"A fellow just donated some stock for the benefit of the Science Club," Morris noted.

Sisters photographer Jerry Baldock is donating 50 percent of the proceeds from any photo of Outlaws co-curricular activities purchased from his website. A link is provided on the foundation website.

On Friday, December 7, the Dutch Bros. stand will be donating $1 from every drink sold to the Sisters Schools Foundation.

Morris said the foundation appreciates the support.

"I have no idea what kind of volume they do at that (coffee) stand, but I think it's a great thing - really nice of them to do," he said.

Morris, after long service as the foundation's treasurer, is stepping away from the board, along with three other members. According to its bylaws, the board has a minimum of nine members and has had up to 13. Four seats are empty (see sidebar).

Morris encourages interested people in Sisters Country to get involved with an organization that has pumped thousands of dollars into a cash-strapped district to help maintain the quality of Sisters education.