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A Public Education Foundation is a third party, non-profit entity whose purpose consists of developing supportive community, alumnae and private sector relationships with a public school system. A Public Education Foundation can also serve the following functions:
- To broaden the constituency of support for public education
- To better inform the community about the challenges facing public schools
- To break down the isolation of the public schools from the general community, particularly those residents without children in the schools
- To maintain confidence in the public schools
- To be a liaison between public schools and their many publics, encouraging community and business involvement in a positive and supportive manner and provide the community positive, accurate information about the local schools year round, not just at budget or referendum time
Our Scope
Public Education Foundations differ from other public school support groups in several ways. They are not situation responsive or single purpose, nor do they duplicate the work of existing organizations (such as the Home and School Association.) Foundations strive to involve the widest range of community interests. They are not a temporary or quick fix.
Public Education Foundations are designed to be a long lasting third party intermediary group that becomes a significant private partner in the support of public education.
The kinds of programs that a foundation can support are too numerous to include here, but few of the programs that might be undertaken serve as illustrations of a foundation’s efforts.
Some communities (such as Mountain Lakes) have used “mini-grants” for teachers as visible ways to have a positive effect on the school system. Foundations may sponsor after-school or weekend enrichment programs for students. They may sponsor learning opportunities for parents and community members who may not have children in the local school system. They may host community forums on a variety of issues. They may contribute to any type of effort that advances and enhances the education of children and community residents.
The most successful school foundations use fund raising simply as a means to an end. What that end is depends on the characteristics and needs of the school district and the community it serves. Foundations are not based on a single model. Although they share some features, each foundation is unique. Foundations derive their purposes and roles from the groups that create them. These purposes and roles vary widely, and once established, they dictate most aspects of the foundation’s operations. It is against these purposes (as outlined in the Mission Statement) that the foundation’s success is often judged, so they should be clearly defined.
The Foundation is intended to be a long-lasting intermediary organization that becomes a significant private partner in support of public education. It seeks to involve the broadest range of community interests and thus become a liaison between the schools and various citizen groups and private entities. In this way, the relationships between the community, Board of Education, schools and staff are enhanced. |
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The mission of the Mountain Lakes Educational Foundation is to attract resources to support enrichment opportunities for the Mountain Lakes educational community. We are a non-profit, tax-exempt entity that seeks financial and non-financial support from business, community groups and individuals. With this support, the Foundation may sponsor programs and facilities to enhance the education of students and community members during and outside of regular school hours.
The educational enrichment opportunities the Foundation may provide fall outside of the regular curriculum and budgetary constraints. These could include, but not be limited to, the following:
- “Mini-grants” to teachers to develop innovative programs
- Special course offerings for students such as conversational languages, drama signing, community service, babysitting
- Course offerings for adults, such as parenting, computer skills, conversational languages, art, cooking, drama, estate planning
- Special events such as family nights, golf tournaments, fashion shows, concerts, dances
- Donations of equipment or materials to enhance instruction in technology, arts, extra-curricular clubs and sports
Mission Statement
- Seek financial support from individuals, businesses, community groups, and other funding sources to meet current and future needs
- Provide educational enrichment opportunities for students and other members of the community
- Enhance the relationships between the community, Board of Education, schools and staff
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The MLEF is a non-profit organization that is run entirely by a volunteer Board of Directors and Trustees. The role of the Board is to make planning and policy decisions; become responsible for financing those decision; monitoring implementation; and promoting community understanding of and support for the MLEF.
Each year, new members are nominated by the current Board. Members generally serve a two-year term.
Role of Board Members
- Support the mission
- Attend all MLEF meetings and actively participate in decision making
- Serve on at least one committee and attend its meetings.
- Share your particular area of expertise with the MLEF.
- Support and participate in fund-raising activities.
- Be an advocate for the MLEF.
- Be willing to assume a leadership position and be a team player.
- Make a financial commitment to the MLEF appropriate to your circumstances.
Committees
- Database: develop a database of MLEF suporters
- Development: fundraising and development of corporate support
- Finance: banking and management of funds
- Fundraising Events: plans and organizes all fundraising events
- Grants: reviews grant applications and make decisions
- Liasons: promote public awareness and facilitates communication among school principals and other organizations
- Nominating: seeks new members
- Newsletter: communicates on a regular basis to report progress and apprise community of MLEF efforts
- Publicity: publicizes MLEF activities through various media including H&SA Bulletin
- Website: maintains website
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 Thank you for visiting our site. It has been a truly rewarding experience serving on the MLEF Board of Directors for the past four years. This year, as president, I am excited to share the exciting work that the Mountain Lakes Education (MLEF) has contributed to the community since our inception over ten years ago.
With the support of the community the MLEF has been instrumental in several major campaigns that have brought children at Wildwood School a dynamic Playground and students at Briarcliff a new state of the art Science Lab. At the High School we have provided equipment for nearly every department in the school. In addition to equipment, the MLEF has sponsored programs that have benefited nearly every student at the High School. Our most recent campaign enabled the installation of "Smartboards" in classrooms throughout the district. We were also thrilled to be able to offer an annual scholarship, the Kathleen Wolter Scholarship for the Practical Arts to a graduating senior each year for the past two years.
Besides our work in the schools, we have funded Adult Tech Classes to the community and, most recently, we have contributed to a new sound system at the High School to enhance performances and presentations for the Greater Mountain Lakes community.
I encourage you to explore our new website where you can see the direct impact that the Foundation has had. It is evident when speaking with the faculty and students in Mountain Lakes schools. The stories are inspiring.
It is through your continuing support that we truly make a difference for every student in Mountain Lakes.
Sincerely,
Laurel Durenberger
President, MLEF 2008/09
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About Us
