Support your local school district!

The mission of the Van Buren Public Schools Education Foundation is to acquire and distribute resources to the Van Buren Public Schools for programs and projects that enhance and supplement opportunities for students, staff, and community.

Since Proposal A changed the way we fund our public schools in 1994, local districts are not permitted to ask voters to approve a tax increase for operations. There are still great disparities among districts in how much money they have to spend to educate each child, ranging from $6,846 to more than $15,406 per pupil—and this gap is no longer shrinking. Here in Van Buren PS, this “foundation allowance” per child is $7,318 for the 2011–12 school year, which is $300 more than it was 10 years ago. That cumulative increase of 4.2% (less than half a percent per year) has not kept up with inflation. It was cut by $470 per pupil this year, at the same time that federal funding was cut by $2.64M, so the need to support our schools is greater than ever.

Through this foundation, you can help to enrich programs and expand opportunities for our community’s children. Donations to this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. You may mail a check to the address listed above.