The San Juan Public Schools Foundation helps supplement inadequate state and federal funding to provide a quality education for our island’s children.

Welcome to the
San Juan Public Schools Foundation!

The San Juan Public Schools Foundation helps to support the high expectations and accomplishments of our small public schools. Excellence Worth Sustaining!

Tax deductible donations made to the San Juan Public Schools Foundation fund programs and services that go beyond what tax revenues can support.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS!

This year's PhoneAThon: Tuesday, October 4th!

 An Investment in Our Community's Future!
The 2010 Phon-a-thon raised $26,215
and this year's Business Promotion raised $15,827

All school districts have financial challenges due to the way the state funds education. Our district has managed funds well and we have fewer of these challenges than most.

What are these challenges?

• Because state funding is significantly reduced due to the current economic situation - state support for K-12 education continues to decrease and budgets continue to be cut by the state.

• Revenue sources for public schools are based on sales tax, business tax, property and real estate taxes. These state revenues are down, therefore state support for K-12 education is down plus student enrollment has decreased, as it has statewide due to demographics.

• Voter passed Initiative 728 which supported smaller classes, was eliminated. Funds to support math and science teachers have been cut. Fourth grade has been hardest hit by larger class sizes.

• State forecast shows that there will be additional reductions and there will be revenue decreases to our district.

Photo by Kathleen Ballard

How have we responded to these issues?

Because we are faced with either cutting programs and services or coming up with additional levels of local support, we have taken several steps to balance the budget, for example, we:

• Teamed with Island Rec to protect the athletic program
• Hired fewer administrators
• Reduced building budgets
• Coordinated services by partnering with community members and agencies
• Reduced expenses through greater operational efficiencies
• Implemented strategic cuts

The FHES Carnival in late May has hundreds of kids
drop in for a good time, especially on sunny days.
Photo courtesy of the San Juan Update.

What are the various budget funds of the district?

• General Fund provides for maintenance and operation
• Transportation Vehicle Fund provides pupil transportation and equipment
• Debt Service Fund is for redemption of bonds and payment of interest
• Capital Projects Fund is for land and buildings
• Associated Student Body Fund is for student activities

What is the Maintenance and Operation Budget (M&O) and how does it work?

There is a maximum amount by law that we can ask the voters for to support and enrich programs outside the state's definition of basic education. San Juan Island voters passed an M&O levy at the maximum amount but there is still a gap.

The school district's partnership with the Friday Harbor Marine Labs
allows students the extra dimension of doing marine science in a
research environment.

What will my Phon-a-thon contribution do?

It is vital for community members to continue to support our excellent programs.

The need is for:

• Maintaining class sizes/teacher retention
• Ongoing textbook adoptions
• Field trips
• Science supplies
• Art supplies
• Partnership with the Friday Harbor Labs
• Ongoing excellent local food program

Thank you for joining community members in supporting our public schools at the October 18 Phon-a-thon in 2010!

You may contribute by cash donation to the general fund or for a program or item you would personally like to support. It takes all of us to support the quality programs in the San Juan Island School District.

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Click here to see a list of the needs for the coming year.