Citizens launch foundation to raise money for Sparta's schools

Sparta — A group of leaders, innovators, and volunteers who want improved funding for the Sparta school district have formed a non-profit foundation devoted to raising money for educational programs and facilities. In a statement released this week, the Sparta Education Foundation announced it is ready to begin carrying out its mission, which is to foster broad private-sector support to serve the needs of Sparta’s public schools. The organization was presented to the public at the Oct. 16 board of education meeting by the foundation’s president, Suzann Schroepfer. “For many years, Sparta’s schools have needed a fundraising vehicle to attract financial support for capital improvements and other projects,” she said. The foundation will join a growing number of other local education foundations around the country, created and managed by local citizens to help broaden the school constituency, improve school-community relationships, and obtain grants. Other foundation officers include Vice-President Dan Corrigan, co-Treasurers Bill Stoddard and Michael Schroepfer, Secretary Dorothy LaBeau, and Compliance Officer Jennifer Passerini, with legal counsel provided by Debra Nicholson. The officers plan to maintain open communication with the board of education and the district administration through reports and presentations at board of education meetings. An invitation will be extended to a member of the board and of the administration to serve as ex-officio members of the foundation. A superintendent acts as representative in 70 percent of local education foundations in New Jersey, while board members are representatives in 58 percent of New Jersey local education foundations. The Sparta Education Foundation will be one of approximately 100 local education foundations in communities across New Jersey. “A separately incorporated foundation can solicit funds on behalf of the schools from many previously untapped sources, including foundations and corporate matching gift programs,” Jennifer Passerini said in the foundation’s statement to the press. Passerini, who has extensive non-profit fundraising experience added, “We are poised and ready to launch a major fundraising effort. It is our hope that the community will embrace and support the mission of the foundation.” While the PTO and PTSO organizations will remain the chief vehicles for support for individual schools, the foundation hopes to supplement their efforts. The foundation’s officers say they are committed to providing support for the entire district and will strive to pursue fundraising that does not overlap with PTO/PTSO activities. The first project for the new foundation will be to fund improvements to Sparta High School’s athletic fields. Since the defeat of Proposal 2 of the recent referendum vote, which requested $2.4 million for these improvements, the foundation will take on the task of raising funds to resurface the fields with artificial turf, build a new stadium with a press box, and add lighting. Improvements to these facilities will benefit not only Sparta High School students, but community athletic programs as well. Besides providing safer surfaces that can be used by athletes year round, the added lights will extend the hours the fields can be used and allow more game and practice times for Little League and parks and recreation teams. The foundation will also seek funding for Lecture 123, an interactive teaching tool enabling teachers to digitally record their lessons during class. Students can then access the lessons later via a secure Web portal. A number of other fundraising projects will be announced at a later date. Buy a brick, support the school Forging partnerships with local businesses is one way the foundation hopes to raise awareness and funding for the schools. The foundation announced Monday night that it has joined forces with Nouvelle Associates (the developers of the new Sparta Theatre), John Monsport (the new proprietor of the theater), and Concrete, Stone and Tile in a unique fundraising effort. The project, called Pathways to Excellence, will allow individuals and businesses to buy a brick and provide a personal message to be engraved on it. The bricks will form a pathway around the new Sparta Theatre, which will be completed in 2007. Citizens can purchase a 6-by-6-foot brick for $60, a 6-by-9-foot brick for $100, or a 9-by-9-foot brick for $200 on which to immortalize their message. A limited number of large bricks, measuring 2.25 square feet, will be reserved for platinum sponsors and will be placed at the entrance to the theater. These bricks will receive the most visibility and will be large enough to accommodate company names and logos. The cost of platinum sponsorship is yet to be determined. All funds raised through the sale of Pathway bricks will benefit foundation projects. A commemorative plaque will be included on the new theater building explaining the significance of the Pathway to Excellence. The Sparta Town Council will donate to the foundation a number of bricks from the Sparta Municipal Building, which is slated for demolition. Built in 1913, the municipal building was the first Consolidated Sparta Schoolhouse. The foundation will have plaques highlighting the history of the building engraved onto the bricks. These small pieces of Sparta’s past school can then be purchased as historic keepsakes, with all funds used to benefit Sparta’s present schools. Sparta Mayor Manny Goldberg told foundation members that many people have already requested that items from the building be preserved as historical memorabilia. “I can’t think of a better way to preserve Sparta’s history, while at the same time contributing to its future, than to take part in this special preservation fundraiser,” Goldberg said. The number to call for information on how to donate or volunteer is 877-472-1731, or e-mail president@spartaeducationfoundation.org. The Sparta Education Foundation will need volunteers to serve on committees and participate in fundraisers. “Our community, like so many others, is judged in part on the quality and success of our school system,” Schroepfer said. “Anything we can do to support our schools will come back to benefit the Sparta community as a whole.”