About SAEF
SAEF--Taking Education Beyond Its Limits
From The Springfield Press, July 16, 2008By Susan L. Serbin
It’s no secret that funding education has become a challenge for every local school district. With state dollars continually in flux, the major responsibility remains on the willingness of property owners to pay what, to some, may seem more than their fair share.
What may be a surprise, therefore, is that some of these same taxpayers voluntarily contribute to a different entity that also supports schools, students and the community. Nearly three years ago, the Springfield Area Education Foundation (SAEF) was established by a group, which included alumni, school district personnel and others, who had a vision of extending services and opportunities beyond the traditional and increasingly tightening budgetary limits.
In Spring 2006, Stan Johnson, SHS ’69 and then president of the SSD Board of Directors, submitted an article to the Springfield Press outlining the SAEF mission and goals. It read, in part, “The purpose is to help provide opportunities for our students by raising funds for programs in the schools, not funded by taxpayer dollars. The SAEF has a volunteer board of directors, a tax exempt status, a financial strategic plan, and lots of ideas about programs for our students. These ideas include additional scholarships, financial support for Celebration of the Arts, musical instruments for aspiring musicians, and upgrades to athletic facilities such as an improved weight room.
“SAEF’s objective is to enhance the existing programs in Springfield School District. The foundation will not compete or detract from the regular program; rather, it seeks to assist and add value to it. As an example, the district has a scholarship program that has been funded by donations from many generous families in memory of loved ones. The mission of the foundation is to raise additional funds so the existing scholarship fund stays viable and then increase the fund so more scholarships can be given to more students.“ Like the school board and administration, the SAEF will remain focused on the three A’s: academics, athletics and arts. These are the core components which provide opportunity for growth and expand the potential of students.
William Mooney is a former school board member who graduated from SHS with Johnson and Don Cadge, both school board and foundation directors. Mooney recently joined the SAEF board and brought some technical expertise which enabled the opening of the organization’s Website, www.springfieldaef.org. “We were looking for a concept to fund programs in the Act 1 environment,“ Mooney said of the state-mandated regulation on school budgeting. “Beyond that, it is a good way for those of us in the community to give back. There is a need for alums and families to stay connected with what’s going on in the district, regardless of whether someone wants to donate money or not.“
As an example, Mooney mentioned the recent passing of a Harry LeFever, a legendary SHS teacher, and the ability for former students to be informed through the Web site. “We are building a site to get the news out, to have an informal blog and to create an alumni directory. We don’t feel this will compete with the district’s site but provide other services,“ said Mooney.
In addition to alumni, who may have a long view of needs, SAEF has board members currently working in the district that can contribute input based on what they see as daily operations. “I hope that future fundraising can further support the academics, arts and athletics at Springfield, supplementing what resident-taxpayers provide, even relieving some of their local tax burden, as well as promoting the virtuous aspects of our school district and community,“ said Gary Mattei, SHS, ’91, an administrator in the central office who wears many hats. George Trout, who arguably is achieving “legendary” status as the Industrial Materials teacher and guiding hand of Celebration of the Arts, is new to SAEF.
“I’m a new member to the board with only two meetings under my belt. I am very proud to have been asked to join, and feel good that they wanted me as a representative of the arts segment of the three A’s. It seems a very logical process to ask those who have so greatly benefited from our excellent schools to help preserve our programs and ideals.“
The SAEF received a boost in revenue as well as recognition in April 2008 with the gift of $10,000 from the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. As owners of the Springfield Mall, PREIT realized its role in the community which has supported the mall for 30 years. Mall marketing director Maureen Brady said PREIT would continue to build a relationship with the school district as the mall will remake its own identity in the coming year.
No doubt SAEF will accept donations large or small or none at all. Now that the foundation has been laid, participation and interest will be the keys to growing the organization and keeping the Cougar spirit alive.
Reprinted with permission of The Springfield Press.
Movement to form the Springfield Area Educational Foundation (SAEF) began in 2005. You can read about its early days in the article below, which appeared in the Springfield Press in the spring of 2006.
SPRINGFIELD AREA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
This “View from the Board” is about something new in Springfield School District. Over the past two years, the Board and Administration, along with volunteers from the Morton and Springfield communities, have been working to establish an Educational Foundation. Known as the Springfield Area Educational Foundation or SAEF, its purpose is to help provide opportunities for our students by raising funds for programs in the schools, not funded by taxpayer dollars. The SAEF has a volunteer board of directors, a tax exempt status, a financial strategic plan, and lots of ideas about programs for our students. These ideas include additional scholarships, financial support for Celebration of the Arts, musical instruments for aspiring musicians, and upgrades to athletic facilities such as an improved weight room.
SAEF’s objective is to enhance the existing program in Springfield School District. The foundation will not compete or detract from the regular program; rather, it seeks to assist and add value to it. As an example, the District has a scholarship program that has been funded by donations from many generous families in memory of loved ones. The mission of the foundation is to raise additional funds so the existing scholarship fund stays viable and then increase the fund so more scholarships can be given to more students.
Another reason for forming the foundation is a recent recommendation from the school district auditors. The recommendation urges the district to separate funds received through donations from the dollars collected from taxpayers. The school board accepted this recommendation and has implemented it.
The foundation will emphasize and support the same three A’s that were the subject of earlier “Views from the Board,” Academics, Arts, and Athletics. Academics will be supported by funding scholarships as was just discussed. SAEF will support the arts by establishing a more solid financial base for the Celebration of the Arts at the High School and the Evening of the Arts at ETR Middle School. SAEF also plans to establish a fund to help young musicians at the middle school and high school acquire the instruments they need.
The foundation has supported the athletic program by being the funding source for the field lights in the varsity stadium. Numerous members of the community have contributed over $50,000 for the lights and the foundation has a loan for the balance of the light’s cost. A community benefactor put up collateral equal to the value of the loan to help the foundation get a very competitive interest rate on the loan. The balance of the loan will be paid through higher gate receipts and increased revenues from concessions.
Future support of athletics will come in additional improvements in facilities at our gyms and fields, as funding allows.
The SAEF Board is planning to launch a coordinated fund raising campaign in the next few weeks. A letter will be sent to alumni requesting donations to the foundation. Several very successful alumni will be approached to see if they would like to help. .
The SAEF Board currently includes Norma Meade '57; Don Cadge ’69; Dr. Jim Capolupo, District Superintendent; Dr. Gary Mattei, Director of D.A.T.A.; Donald Mooney '79 Executive Director of Operations; Dr. Joseph O’Brien, former SHS Principal and District Superintendent; John Falcone ‘66, Skip Werley, former teacher and A.D.; Dr. Adeline Bethany, member of the faculty at Cabrini College; Kathleen Boyer, ETR music teacher; and founder, Stanley L. Johnson. As a group, we believe the SAEF will be a valuable addition to the school district and an additional source of support for our young people. We invite everyone in the community to make a tax-deductible contribution to the foundation to further Academics, the Arts, and Athletics in Springfield School District.