This online fundraiser ends at 9 p.m. this Saturday, March 6.
This annual event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the 501(c)3 organization. The goal of the PTO is to support the educational endeavors of children and the staff of the district. Because of the communityâs support at last yearâs gala, the PTO was able to meet their initial fundraising goals and immediately awarded $5,000 to each of the three district principals the night of the event.
Moreover, each year PTO is able to purchase thousands of dollars in books, technology subscriptions, $200 to teachers for classroom supplies, funding for the elementary school librarian, new fitness instruction and playground equipment, hand sanitizing stations, enrichment programs for teachers and students, robotics and STEAM equipment, and staff appreciation luncheons.
Thereâs no denying that the pandemic has had an impact on local schools but, during the Jan. 27 School Board meeting, Superintendent Kelly Glass put a rough estimate of the financial hit Fountain Hills campuses are taking: About $275,000.
During the meeting, Glass noted that âCOVID and funding is not working out well for us.â The district was notified in recent weeks that its Maintenance and Operations budget would be shrinking by about $75,000 for the next academic year, with funds provided through the Governorâs Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund being about $200,000 less than anticipated.
The ESSER fund was established to provide about 95 percent of expected funding for Arizona districts based on the number of students attending classes virtually.
A Fountain Hills Middle School teacher has filed an open meeting law complaint with the Attorney Generalâs Office against Fountain Hills Unified School District.
Erin Willis alleges that FHUSD made a Nov. 25 hearing â where she was appealing her termination â closed to the public because they would not allow viewers to join the meeting virtually via Zoom.
FHUSD Superintendent Kelly Glass said that the hearing was open for the public to attend in person, but not virtually.
The FHUSD Governing Board terminated Willisâ position at the Oct. 21 School Board meeting, alleging that Willis had violated district policy by making false statements.