La Cañada Educational Foundation hands $2.25M check to school board

In a ceremony that’s become an annual tradition, officials with the La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation on Tuesday delivered a giant presentation check to the La Cañada school board that represented $2.25 million raised during the 2012-13 school year.

The funds have been accounted for in the current LCUSD budget.

So far, according to Supt. Wendy Sinnette, some of the money raised by the foundation has been put to use maintaining and funding elementary arts, music and drama programs; counselors at elementary, 7/8 and high school levels, employed 10 teachers; kept class sizes down in grades K-3; allowed for two sessions of Mandarin at La Cañada High; and made possible the elective “Money Matters” class for LCHS 7/8. It is also being used to upgrade technology in the schools.

“There’s no district in the land that is as fortunate as we are to have all the amazing support of our parents and the community to bring these dollars into the district,” said Supt. Wendy Sinnette.

Paris Cohen, who served as president of the foundation during the past school year, emphasized that the fundraising achieved by the organization is a group effort.

“We cannot do this without the support of our families, our community and our business owners,” Cohen said.

To the district officials she added, “I do want to thank you for doing such exemplary work with our school. You’ve provided excellent teachers, excellent administrators and programs so our students can thrive. Thank you.”

-- Sara Cardine, s_cardine09@yahoo.com