Shifting Focus at Saybrook's Ed Foundation
OLD SAYBROOK - When former middle school principal Michael Rafferty took the helm of the Old Saybrook Education Foundation Board recently, he said he would as long as the board agreed to make a few changes.
His plan for the re-energized foundation was two-fold: to build stronger connections between the foundation and the broader community and to award more foundation grants for education innovations and projects that directly benefit students.
"We really want to promote staff and student innovation projects through grants," said Rafferty.
Right now Rafferty and the foundation board are working to revise the foundation by-laws to reflect the organization's adjusted focus and organizational structure.
As with all local education foundations, funds it raises go to support students and school program innovations that are beyond what the school system budget can support.
"We cannot supplant funding the district provides [to the schools]. We supplement it," said Rafferty.
Under the foundation's new approach, students and teachers would develop proposals for education innovation projects for which they would like foundation grant funding. Those requests would then be reviewed with the building principal to make them aware of the proposal. A dialogue would ensue to refine the grant request and then it would be submitted to the foundation for consideration.
"We're looking for anything creative whether in fine arts, STEM (e.g. science, technology, engineering, and math), or any other field," said Rafferty.
What are examples of the type of grant proposal he's seeking? One was a grant awarded last year to support earth science teacher David Plotkin's plan to take 25 students on a field trip to Channel 3's weather station.
Rafferty's also hopeful the foundation can support bringing advanced technology into classrooms to enhance student learning opportunities.
"We are a non-profit organization. The only fundraising that we do is the annual auction. This year, it's called Spring Fling and will be a record hop planned for Friday, March 21 at Saybrook Point Inn," said Rafferty. "Anyone who wants to contribute an item for the auction should contact a member of the foundation board or send a note to the Education Foundation" at P.O. Box 323, Old Saybrook, CT 06475.
In the past, auction items have ranged from tickets to sports events and concerts to vacation weekends in the mountains or on the shore and from fishing trips to homemade dinners for 12 or gift certificates for products and services.
In the 10 years of its existence, the foundation has provided more than $100,000 in support of educational enrichment programs and students through scholarships, equipment for program technology improvements, the high school greenhouse, School-to-Career Program, Project Lead the Way engineering program, youth leadership conferences, financial hardship grants for students to attend major educational trips, Quiz Bowl Team, Middle School Lego Team, Destination Imagination, and other programs.
To fulfill the second goal of building stronger foundation connections to the community, Rafferty and the board are seeking two new board members from the community. Anyone interested in joining the foundation board should send a letter of interest to the Education Foundation at the address above.
"If you want to donate a service, a sponsorship, [or an] item or would like to be on the foundation Board of Directors, write to us at P.O. Box 323 in Old Saybrook," said Rafferty.
This year's officers of the Old Saybrook Education Foundation are Mike Rafferty, president; Julie Pendleton, vice president; Becki Renshaw, treasurer; and Gerri Lewis, secretary.
All-Town Block Parties
Another town-wide organization that shares the foundation's goal of building stronger connections between youth and the community is the Healthy Community Healthy Youth (HCHY) initiative. Rafferty is one of three community leaders-himself, Gretchen Bushnell, and Sam Barnes-who helped to start the program about 24 years ago and remain on the board to guide it.
Wearing the hat of HCHY Board member, Rafferty was excited to share the group's newest initiative, called Neighborhood Block Party. The concept would be that neighborhoods throughout town would all hold neighborhood block parties on the same day. To facilitate the organizing of this event, HCHY Board members are currently seeking commitments from individuals willing to serve as the captain for their neighborhood's event.
"It's a chance to come together and get to know your neighbors. By March 1, there will be a link up on the town's Youth & Family Services agency webpage for the Neighborhood Block Party event," Rafferty said. "It's a place where block party ideas can be shared. Every party may be different."
The event concept arose from ideas raised in three community summits that HCHY sponsored last fall.
"We're encouraging captains to try to find a neighbor to have the party in their back or front yard so streets don't have to close. And we urge it to be planned as an alcohol-free event," he said.
Watch for more information about the new Block Party event in the coming months.