THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504250137
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Private funding for public education?
Eric Thompson, a Smithfield resident and father of three, thinks it could work. And School Superintendent Jane T. York agrees.
That's why Thompson and York have been working for more than a year to establish a tax-exempt educational foundation in Isle of Wight County so that citizens who want to make financial or material contributions to local schools will have more incentive to do so.
``We can give people a very easy way to give money to the schools,'' Thompson said. ``We can't keep going back to the Board of Supervisors and asking for more and more money.''
Historically, the cost of educating children in the county has represented more than 60 percent of its general operating budget.
Still, more has always been needed, and private grants have added much to the curriculum in public schools, Thompson said. The grants have bought computers, started a fax club at an elementary school and brought traveling exhibits and plays to the schools.
Even though the foundation is not fully established, it already is able to distribute some funds. Recently, for example, a $3,000 kick-off donation helped make it possible for the Virginia Symphony to perform at Smithfield High School for the April 30 opening of the school's new auditorium.
``I think this could do much to enhance programs,'' Thompson said. ``I hope the citizenry supports this. I think the opportunity is there, and I hope we take advantage of it.''
Suffolk has had a similar foundation for about three years, York said, and the Isle of Wight Educational Foundation is well on its way.
The fledgling foundation already has filed with the State Corporation Commission and the Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt status, Thompson said. This has been done with help from a lawyer who works in the same building where Thompson is employed as resident manager for Paine Webber Inc. in Norfolk.
Also, the foundation's structure has been mapped out. It would consist of an all-volunteer staff, Thompson said, with representatives on an 11-member board of directors from PTAs at each school, from the Board of Supervisors, the school superintendent's office and an at-large representative.
With volunteers working to decide how the money should be spent, there would be no administrative costs, Thompson said.
``This way, when people have questions - `How do I give? Why do I give? Will it be tax deductible?' - we'll have the answers.'' by CNB