Lack of fundraising could mean the end of samo programs

SMMUSD schools are witnessing a sharp decline in fundraising from the Ed Foundation, which could mean the end of various programs in the 2024-2025 school year.

P.S. Arts / Contributor

The Ed Foundation typically provides Samo with stretch grants, a form of discretionary funding that can be put towards valuable programs and resources without limitation. Last year, the school was granted $59,233 in stretch grants. This year, Samo is expecting none of that money.

On March 6, SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton released an urgent message to Santa Monica families. Following the Ed Foundation’s fundraiser on Jan. 31, it had become increasingly clear that the projected goal of $1.8 million would not be met through the usual channels. With only 32 percent of district families contributing to this number, Shelton stated that the district was prepared for the possibility that $600,000 worth of Ed Foundation-supported programs would be at risk. The fact remains that if this money is not raised by June 30, considerable cuts will be made to programs currently taken for granted.

“We rely on the Santa Monica Education Foundation to help supplement and enhance the curriculum of all students in our Santa Monica public schools,” Shelton said. “This is the time to give what you can.”

By March 12, the Ed Foundation witnessed a seven percent increase in its goal sum.

The majority of the Ed Foundation’s budget is dedicated to the instructional assistants employed by elementary schools. Around $1.2 million is dedicated to the salaries of these instructional assistants, which help provide an intimate and supportive setting for students in early grades. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that this is the only Ed Foundation-funded program guaranteed to survive in the 2024-25 school year, given that only a little more than the necessary $1.2 million is confirmed to have been raised. With around $500,000 worth of Ed Foundation resources still left unaccounted for, schools of all grade levels will bear witness to the decline of various programs.

The district’s second priority with their Ed Foundation funding is the P.S. ARTS program, the implementation of art-based classes at the elementary level. The staffing and supplies necessary for the upkeep of P.S. ARTS are directly reliant on these donations. This program too is at risk.

Generally, the remaining funds are then divided among district schools in the form of stretch grants. This decision is based on a variety of factors such as enrollment and due diligence to Title I legal standards. Samo’s stretch grants are typically allotted to a number of student resources such as the writing center, which employs former teachers to coach AP students and seniors intent on submitting their college applications. Also funded by stretch grants are free tutoring resources, such as math teachers stationed in the library after hours; CARPE, the college app access network that organizes various workshops in the fall and assists with the FAFSA application process; and teacher collaboration time, allowing them to congregate for conferences. Any additional money is invested into art or student wellness programs. With the current status of the fundraising process, Samo can expect to lose all these resources.

Samo Principal Marae Cruce is of the belief that the Ed Foundation-supported programs are crucial to maintaining campus harmony and that in addition to dwindling enrollment, the lack of funding comes from a place of misinformation among Santa Monica families. She explained that the majority of families do not feel obligated to donate to the Ed Foundation if they have already donated to the school directly.

“Yes, it’s great to donate to your school’s PTSA, but there are restrictions on how those funds can be used. The Ed Foundation provides these stretch grants because they’re flexible,” Cruce said. “We’re trying to educate people on the difference between the two.”

The Ed Foundation hosted its 9th annual wine auction on Apr. 21, which was initially estimated to bring in around $300,000. The financial success of the auction remains unknown at present.