Gov. Joe Lombardo joins Rhonda Allison’s first-grade class on March 3, 2023 at Bordewich Bray Elementary School.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
Carson City Schools Foundation President Steve Reynolds recalls the early 2000s when he was a part of the local Chamber of Commerce and found other members didn’t fully understand how to connect to their educational system.
“To a person or to a committee, they felt desire to support schools in the community,” he said.
Conversations are improving to encourage community awareness and involvement with Carson City’s schools, he said. With Carson City School District’s strategic plan, community-involved volunteers and classes based in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and teachers and businesses supporting growth in recent years, Reynolds expressed pleasure at being a part of the progress.
The foundation, responsible for providing financial and community support for schools, has a high balance this year at $110,139.73 as of March 9, with $77,216.59 available for use. It has $32,923.14 in dedicated funds held for CCSD’s JumpStart program, for which books and materials can cost between $100 to $300 for students and become a burden on families, Reynolds said.
Reynolds said as of March 1, CCSF began its annual giving campaign, with its goal to collect $60,000 to fund JumpStart and grant programs, and new this year, it has committed to help cover expenses for Advanced Placement tests, which have gone up to $95 for students who need the help, after receiving a request from Carson High School.
The grants program serves multiple needs, including individual student grants for school-related fee and expenses for sports, club or travel expenses; mini-grants for the district’s educators within classrooms; department grants to assist staff teams or grade levels; or school grants for larger site projects up to $1,000 available to each middle and elementary school.
CCSF receives contributions and donations from businesses, community organizations and school district employee payroll deductions.
“The more we do, the more people know about us,” Gilles said.
For information, visit ccschoolsfoundation.org.