05/08/2008: "Change Your Schools"

By Dan & Liz Seaton

By now you have heard the rumors…. the staggering numbers… the cuts and it’s time to take action before we loose what makes up our schools. By May 15th the School has to present a balanced budget and if you are not aware, we are approximately $600,000 short.

These shortages are going to continue if the economy continues to falter, and we can not depend on it to change over night at the state level. We have to act at the community level today!

After the public meeting on Thursday it was clear that we as a community have to take action if we are going to preserve our teachers our programs and our future.

There was a gentleman that spoke at lasts nights meeting and he made a great suggestion that if every family invested $100 towards our children and the school that our shortfall would diminish greatly. We encourage those of you that can contribute that or even more to please do so. We also realize there are a lot of families that are not in the position to contribute at that level and we are proposing :

“Change For Change”

Everyone on this island has some amount of change floating in their cars, in their pocket or underneath the couch cushions. We are asking for you to find that miscellaneous change and donate to make a difference. We challenge families to start paying with cash and take whatever coin is left and deposit into the marked bins, this change can make a change. You will find the bins at Islanders Bank, Friday Harbor Drug, Rocky Bay Café and The Market Chef.

Please give what you can. We are at a crossroads here and our children and their education are at stake. We believe the key is to pull together as a community which we have done some many times to make this a reality. You can mail any donations to:

The Public Schools Foundation
PO Box 1452
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Or
San Juan County School Distract
PO Box 458
Friday Harbor, WA 98250

If you have any other ideas or would like to help join this grass roots cause please feel free to contact us at 378-7291.
We believe together we can make CHANGE happen.