New Foundation Aims to Support K-L Schools

Delivering top-notch educational quality in tough economic times is a challenge, but leaders of a new educational foundation hope to help the Katonah Lewisboro district manage the trend of doing more with less.

Initiated by board member Janet Harckham—she campaigned for her board seat with the promise of getting it off the ground—the KL Foundation, Inc. was established June 7 with Madeline Polemini named as Chair of the Board. $15,000 in pledges are already lined up, said Harckham, though the donors' names are not yet public.

"I'm glad we'll be joining the many other districts in the county with foundations," said Polemini. "We hope to fund innovative projects and be more than a stopgap in difficult times."

Grants will be given on an annual basis with next Spring targeted for their first awards, she added. Potential projects could include wireless access for the high school or a new AP curricula, but will be driven by community interest, said Polemini. Teachers or other district employees may apply for funds.

The idea of independent financial support for K-L schools is not new. The Katonah Lewisboro Schools Foundation existed during most of the 90s, according to Debra Paget, one of its former leaders. Both parties briefly explored keeping it going, but differences in how the money should be spent led Harckham's group to start anew.

"We didn't want to fund projects that should be a part of the budget," said Paget. The foundation folded, and gave remaining funds, totaling approximately $6,000, to the district.

With declining state aid and rising salaries, Harckham won't rule anything out in terms of the type of grants given. "We want to reward great ideas, but we'll fund anything to maintain our programs," she said, noting that the funding for SMART boards in classrooms was eliminated in this year's budget.

About a year ago, Harckham, with fellow board member Warren Schloat, attended a seminar on starting school foundations at a New York State School Boards Association meeting. The idea gained traction during this budget season, and with legal assistance provided through K&L Gates, the law firm at which board president Mike Gordon is employed, the foundation became a reality.

Polemini was selected to lead the foundation for her experience as a strategic planner and trainer, and her track record as devoted community volunteer, said Harckham. They are accepting applications for the board and executive committee, and should have a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt status by 2011. School board members may be involved as non-voting members of the foundation.

Where other groups seeking community dollars serve a niche need, such as ArtsALIVE, PTO's and the sports booster club, Harckham sees this foundation as benefitting the entire the district. "I think it's different and we will not be in competition with the other organizations," she said.

190 out of 700 local school boards in New York State report having educational foundations in their districts, according to a 2010 New York State School Boards Association survey of its members. In Westchester County, Mamaroneck, Byram Hills, Irvington and Chappaqua are a few of the more successful examples, said Barbara Bradley, Director of Communications at NYSBBA.

Is Katonah-Lewisboro hopping on a rising trend? While comparison numbers from previous years were not readily available, Bradley said the demand for information has grown.

"I can say that this year, we are offering a seminar at our annual conference plus a series of webinars on this topic. We're offering more programs now to make our membership aware of how to start or enhance educational foundations," she said.