Membership FAQPTA Fundraising Membership/Fair Share Drive:
Why can’t we use the International Baccalaureate grant funds to help Borel?
Although we received the International Baccalaureate grant, the funds from this grant are earmarked for specific programs and training, and cannot be used to support our current programming.
I pay plenty of taxes, and Borel is a public school, so shouldn’t tax revenues cover all costs?
In 1978, Californians voted for Proposition 13, which was designed to keep property taxes in check as property values soared. Since that time California schools have gone from ranking in the nation’s top 5 to ranking in the nation’s bottom 10. Funding for our schools is based on tax revenue and though our homes are expensive, there are a large number of them occupied by people that have lived in them for many years and pay very low taxes. Therefore, we are considered a low-wealth school district. We rank in the bottom 20% in the state and are the lowest funded district in San Mateo County. This affects Borel, making our PTA vital for funding key enrichment programs and even for providing basic essentials.
What is corporate matching?
Many of your employers offer a matching program. Generally your company pledges to match any charitable donation you make up to a certain maximum per year. By taking advantage of these programs, families can potentially double their contributions to the Borel Middle School PTA. Please check with your employer to see if a program like this exists for you, AND, don’t hesitate to call us if you have questions about how to get started. The following companies are known to have matching programs. If your company is not listed, please check with your employer.
Applied Materials / Charles Schwab/ Cisco / CMP / Fidelity / Genentech / Hewlett-Packard / Intel / Intuit / Merrill Lynch / Microsoft / P.G.E. / Peninsula Community Foundation / Sun Microsystems / Symantec / UPS / Yahoo
Why does PTA Membership matter?
In our community, we recognize the large gap between government funding and the amount needed to provide our children with the education and opportunities we believe they deserve. The money our district receives from taxes isn’t enough to maintain all the programs we have come to expect.
Where will my additional contributions go?
Numerous items are not funded by the state and/or district. To just name a few, your contribution will help support the following:
· Math Support Program (for small group instruction)
· Additional Library Staffing
· One period of Music and Drama
· Administrative support for our school counselor who serves oversees 900+ students
· Student Recognition Programs
· Parent Education Nights (topics like Internet Safety with nationally accredited speakers)
· Student Assemblies (such as Internet Safety and Cultural Awareness)
· Instructional Supplies (paper, pencils, markers, folders, etc)
What is the Auctionpay system?
For the 2009-2010 school year our goal is 100% participation. Help us reach this goal by contributing to the Borel PTA Membership FSP at $350 per student. Every dollar makes a difference – so please donate as generously as you can. The Auctionpay system enables you to donate online with a credit card! If you would like to pay in installments, you will need to use this Auctionpay online system. Click here to use the secure Auctionpay system.
If you like to mail in your contribution, click here to for the form.