As school principals, educating children is our mission and our passion. Together, we are writing today with one voice — to ask our community to join us in an important effort to improve education for every child in our school district.
We are so thrilled to be educators in a school district that benefits from the support of thousands of donors who give generously every year to the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation (SMMEF). These donations fund important programs for all children: arts education, instructional assistants and enrichment at every school. Remember, these programs can no longer be funded by PTAs. Your donations to SMMEF make these programs possible.
With less than one month left to help fully fund these programs for the next school year, we are asking everyone to pitch in. SMMEF is 82 percent of the way toward making sure these programs return to our schools next year. Thanks to the generosity of the Franklin Elementary School PTA, your donation will now be matched dollar for dollar up to $200,000.
As principals, we see these programs and teachers in action every day, engaging and inspiring our students to achieve their full potential.
We also see the difference these programs make in our academic goals for all students. They are vitally important to the quality of our children’s education, and we want them to continue next year.
Unless everyone does their part, however, the Board of Education may have to cut or cancel some of these programs for next year, which would be unfortunate
for all students at all SMMUSD schools.
Please join us and donate what you can at smmef.org to help maintain these programs for all students. Every gift makes an impact. Thank you to all families, community members and businesses that have already donated to get us this far.
Strong schools are the backbone of a strong and vibrant community. Thank you for supporting a high-quality public education for our district’s students. We can’t think of a better investment to make.
Pamela Herkner, Lori Orum, Deanna Sinfield, Jezelle Fullwood, Paula Lytz, Susan Yakich, Mark Demick, Natalie Burton, Susan Samarge-Powell, Elizabeth Cochran, Jessica Rishe, Steven Richardson, Florence Culpepper, Brandon Gallagher, Anthony Fuller and Eva Mayoral
SMMUSD principals