Education Foundation teams up with District 158 to turn Marlowe Middle School into a winter wonderland
HUNTLEY – It’s no secret that the pandemic has not had the most favorable of outcomes when it comes to the education system. This couldn’t be truer for Huntley District 158.
District 158 Chief Financial Officer Mark Altmayer explained in the December 3 Committee of the Whole meeting, that the district was seeing financial favorability in salaries and benefits, “which is driven by furlough as well as benefits as a result of health insurance favorability.”
Altmayer went further into detail explaining how insurance claims were several hundred thousand less than what the District was averaging in the years prior.
Though it seems not all is bad news. A sentiment that was shared by Superintendent Scott Rowe who remains cautiously optimistic.
“With the President-Elect Biden, things look a little bit better internally, in terms of recent conversations around the stimulus package that might aid, a little bit, our finances,” Rowe said.
“Where we weren’t feeling so positive before. We have not heard any additional updates in terms of the educational spectrum from the finances. We’re still prognosticating 5% cuts into the school year and 10% cuts next year and that’s all dependent on if they decide they want to tackle a tax increase in the late fall session or in the spring general assembly where the stimulus package comes in and gives them enough comfort that they don’t get us where it hurts.”
Despite the various unknowns when it comes to the District’s projected finances, one thing is certain: The Education Foundation’s dedication to aiding the District in their ability to offer opportunities and programs beyond that afforded through the District alone.
In short, the Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides further resources for both students and educators of District 158, by means of various fundraising efforts.
Executive Director for the Education Foundation Angela Kossaris explained, “Our goal is still to raise money to help students that need scholarships, teachers that have specific classroom grants that they’re seeking that we want to help facilitate their needs to continue that normalcy throughout this pandemic. We as a school district, we work hand in hand with the Foundation, making sure that, although a teacher asks for a grant, that we make sure that [grant] still fits in line with our curriculum and our technology and the District.”
The Education Foundation holds three major fundraising events throughout the year. One of the events having taken place at Marlowe Middle School on December 5, replaced the usual annual breakfast and dinner with Santa.
Kossaris, who was also the race instructor for the Huntley Hootenanny Glow 5K Run/Walk back in September, detailed how the Foundation was able to sell out of their drive-thru Santa event.
“We learned from the Hootenanny, because we did our packet pick up as a drive-thru. So, when we were talking about how we can still hold our annual Santa event, we kind of learned the process of a drive-thru and how that might work in that situation so, we are very lucky that we had a volunteer Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a volunteer Frosty, and Buddy the Elf came out to greet all of the cars and talk to all of the children that were able to participate in the event,” Kossaris said.
“We unfortunately, had to turn people away just because it was popular. We tried to gage how many cars we could see based on the time that we had set and we met the 400-ticket max. So, we left it open because during this pandemic, we know that scheduling is tough. We don’t want to put any added stress on the community and so we just said any time between eight and one, please stop by. We stuffed 400 bags with toys and games and you know, tattoos and stickers and stamps and cookie treats and milk and just anything fun that we could fit in there. Little Santa beacons and reindeer food. Just something to bring joy to the community and to the students, the children, and the District.”
The “Santa Express” event as it is fondly called, included all kinds of signage throughout the route, with fun facts and brain teasers as well as lyrics to songs, participants could sing along to.
“We just tried to make it festive and fun and so far, we’ve received really positive feedback and the community really liked it and it’s something that we’re considering keeping for next year as one of our Santa events,” Kossaris said.
The Education Foundation also hosts a Staff Appreciation event in the spring, to honor educators and other staff members of the District.
As mentioned previously, the Huntley Hootenanny is the other event held in September of each year. Though whether it will be held virtually as it was this year, is yet unknown as the Foundation is still awaiting approval from the Village of Huntley, for that event.
Through all of the changes District 158 has had to endure this year, they can at the very least count on their partnership with the Education Foundation to maintain the high spirits of its staff and students.
“We just want to thank [the community] for the continued support of the Education Foundation, even though our community has suffered hardships they still value education and we truly appreciate all of their help in keeping our events alive. They bring as much joy to us. Their participation, it sounds like they’re enjoying it as much as we are,” Kossaris said.
