Schools

New Haven Boosters, Schools Foundation Launch Donation Drive for Co-Curricular Programs

With the failure of Measure H, the New Haven Boosters Association and New Haven Schools Foundation are calling on residents who voted "yes" to donate $180 or more to directly aide co-curricular activities.

Updated 9:04 a.m.

Measure H may have , but New Haven supporters aren’t going down without a fight.

The New Haven Boosters Association and New Haven Schools Foundation are calling on anyone who wants to help — regardless if they voted "Yes" or "No" on Measure H — to donate at least the $180 proposed by the parcel tax measure to directly aide co-curricular activities.

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“Measure H has indeed failed and that means we find ourselves in desperate need of outside funding to ensure our co-curricular programs stay in place,” read a note posted on the Boosters website.

The Boosters are also hoping those who voted “No” but said they would donate $180 to support activities keep good on their word. (Even money to the Boosters.

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“We want to raise as much money as possible,” said Michael Ritchie, co-founder of the New Haven Boosters Association and a New Haven Board of Education trustee, speaking on behalf of the Boosters. “We encourage families to donate anything from the $180 in the proposed annual parcel to whatever amount they can afford.”

The donation drive, which launched Thursday afternoon, is part of the Boosters and Foundation’s pledge to raise $100,000 to contribute to sports, music and other co-curricular programs throughout the 2012-13 school year. The will be the first contribution to the fund, Ritchie said.

“We’d love to do more if possible,” Ritchie said. “We’ve been approached to see if additional money can be raised for libraries for the district, and we’ll be taking that into consideration.”

Last year, the Boosters and Foundation made a similar pledge and raised $100,000 for the 2011-12 school year. Half of the money came from the Foundation’s various events and programs, with the rest from Boosters events, such as the annual Race to Save Student Activities and 10-10-10 fundraising program, according to Ritchie.

Those interested in supporting the Boosters and Foundatin’s pledge can make a tax deductible donation via the Foundation's website at www.nhsfoundation.com or mail a donation to:

NHBA, c/o New Haven Schools Foundation
33377 Western Avenue
Union City, CA  94587

More fundraising efforts and events are currently being planned. Stay tuned to the Boosters website and Facebook page for the latest updates. Any questions may be directed to info@newhavenboosters.org.

“We’re moving forward,” Ritchie said. “We know we have work to do and we’re hoping the community will support the co-curricular programs like they did last year.”

Teachers, classified staff in contract negotiations

Meanwhile, teachers and staff are trying to do what they can to minimize the impact of the budget cuts the district faces next school year, a district official said.

The district faces up to $12 million in cuts for the 2012-13 school year. Measure H would have offset the cuts by raising $3 million a year for the next four years.

A yielded only a total of 7,852 votes, according to the latest figures released by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Thursday afternoon. Just over 62 percent of the votes (4,906 votes) were in favor of the measure, which was still required to win.

In the wake of the measure’s failure, teachers are considering changes to their contracts, which will be voted on next week, according to district spokesman Rick La Plante. Negotiations are also underway with classified staff, he said.

“We’re trying to move ahead,” La Plante said. “It’s not going to be easy.”

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