Fall 2010
I am very excited for the coming school year, 2010-2011.  Our Second Annual Oktoberfest celebration will be held October 2nd, and our Seventeenth Annual Taste of the Triangle will be held April 29th. Through these events, corporate and foundation grants, and our various donation programs, we are able to distribute about $100,000 annually to our five public schools. This year, the board of EdUCate! has made some exciting changes in how we will be distributing those funds. 

During the first thirteen years of EdUCate's operation, funds were distributed via teacher-written grants. While we had a huge impact on those classrooms that garnered funds, the process was so cumbersome for teachers that many did not apply. When, four years ago, we began to see many requests for document cameras and digital projectors, we polled our principals and found out that every classroom could benefit from that technology upgrade.

So, over the last three years, we have given our funds to provide a document camera and digital projector for every UC classroom! This exciting technology was a valuable addition for our teachers and they are using them daily in the classrooms.  Following the completion of that program, we set out to provide laptops to complement those document cameras. After purchasing and distributing many of the district approved laptops in 2009, we met with our principals and district officials to review the continued need.  It was determined that the passage of Prop S provided funding that was set to complete this need.

The EdUCate! board met in June to review funding and distribution policies and decided to adopt a plan to provide support across three channels: one-third of available funds to cluster wide projects, one-third to a simplified teacher grant process (to  be held twice annually) and one third to the principals of the five schools, to be allocated at their discretion.  

This important change allows for more flexibility in how the money is allocated. Now more than ever, our schools need this type of support.  Providing items the teachers, staff and principals need, will have a direct impact on the classroom.  Continuing to allow cluster wide dollars is also very important as it allows us to apply for outside grants from corporations and charitable foundations. These projects will provide continuity and verticality as our students transition from elementary to middle to high school. Since 1993, you have helped EdUCate! provide over $1,000,000 in supplemental supplies and equipment to UC public schools.   Please continue to help us grow by working with us as the year moves forward.  We welcome any feedback or comments.  I hope to hear from you!

Brook Feerick, President
president@uc-educate.org