Fundraising deadline looms in Del Mar Schools Education Foundation’s quest to save ESC programs, teachers’ jobs

•Donations needed now

By Karen Billing

The Del Mar Schools Education Foundation is facing a rapidly approaching fundraising deadline of Feb. 15.
As of Jan. 27, foundation president Chris Stevenson said they had raised $700,000 of the $1.7 million needed to keep all the Extended Studies Curriculum (ESC) programs intact at all eight school sites. If the foundation doesn’t make the $1.7 million goal, schools could lose teachers in the ESC programs of art, music, technology, science and PE.
The PE teachers may be the first to go.
Last year, when the district faced a similar ESC shortfall, a trimmed ESC program was proposed that included science, technology and a school site decision between music and art. Physical education teachers would be cut—two specialists would be saved to serve the entire district.
With that formula, Carmel Del Mar would be without PE teacher Katharin Roth, who happily jogged around the field with her students at a fundraising jogathon last week, trying to keep up with her speedy daughter Stella. Sage Canyon would be without Trenton Tracy who, armed with a megaphone, kept students entertained and motivated as they ran circles around him.
The current fundraising shortfall is an unpleasant reality check, Stevenson said.
"We are expecting layoffs," she said.
After such a blockbuster year last year, Stevenson said she hopes they can gain momentum in the last few weeks of fundraising. She said donation rates are increasing— Torrey Hills alone has had a 200 percent growth rate — but last year the foundation had an extra month to fundraise.
"We're hoping for a least $1 million by Feb. 15," said Stevenson. "There [is] a significant challenge to get it in by then."
Danielle Roche, Del Mar Classified Teachers Association acting president, said that 100 percent of teachers in the district have donated to the foundation. She urged district board members to show sensitivity if they have to send out pink slip notifications to teachers on March 15.