Schools

D122 to Start Foundation to Help Find Alternative Revenue

The foundation's Board of Directors was introduced to the school board Wednesday night.

Updated at 11 p.m. April 7

In a year that the state still owed the local school district about $2.2 million, and the Board of Education worked to slash the budget by about $2.5 million, just about any source of alternative revenue seems it will help keep money going into the classroom.

So taking after other area schools, the New Lenox District 122 is creating a not-for-profit foundation that will work to raise money that will go directly to the classroom for various projects and equipment. The foundation's Board of Directors was introduced for the first time Wednesday night at the school board meeting.

Find out what's happening in New Lenoxwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The foundation is committed to seeking alternative revenue sources for innovative projects that will directly impact and enhance the learning potential of students," foundation President Lisa Cain said to the board.

Joining Cain on the board are Vice President Tom Burton; Secretary Tracy Ladd; directors Kim Du'Prey, Pam McCauley and Bill Mohney; and Cherry Hill Principal Marianna Cucci, who will serve as the school liaison to the board. The opportunity to become a director was relayed by word of mouth, and this group stepped forward to volunteer. Cain said the board may have up to 21 directors.

Find out what's happening in New Lenoxwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The board has been formed after months of work on the part of Cucci and Cain, who has volunteered at Cherry Hill for three years. She has three children who have graduated from District 122 and another two currently in New Lenox schools, so her commitment prepared her for the foundation.

“I love the children, and that's what the foundation is all about," Cain said. "That’s the reason I volunteer so much at the school.”

Officers will be elected by the foundation's Board of Directors, and they will serve two-year terms. Directors will serve three-year terms. The board, which is made up of volunteers who are not compensated, will vote on how to spend the money it receives. The school liason will communicate the district's needs but will not have voting privileges.

The foundation will take a similar shape to others in the area, such as the Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Foundation. Unlike the Parent Teacher Organization, this foundation will be focused on larger, more adult-centric events that work more on partnerships with businesses. But the PTO and the foundation will likely compliment each other with similar end goals.

"We'll be completely separate, but it's great to have another group dedicated to putting more money into the classroom and helping students any way we can," PTO Vice President Kristen Labriola said in an earlier interview.

Superintendent Mike Sass previously said teachers would likely write grant proposals to the foundation and the money that the foundation raises would go to various equipment or projects in the classroom. Certain years, he said, there could be a theme or a major focus on improving a specific area, such as technology.

"Ultimately, the foundation will determine its vision for the schools just as the school board determines its vision," Sass said. "But the foundation board and the school board are wholly separate."

That being said, the school board members were happy to know there's another possible source of alternative revenue coming into the classroom, an area from which they try to keep cuts away.

"It really is the dedication of volunteers like yourself who help bridge the gap, especially in these economic times," school board President Kathy Markus said.

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer director or helping the foundation in another way, email foundation@nlsd122.org.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here