Gilroy
– Unable to take over the Gilroy Educational Foundation, a group
of parents of accelerated students is looking to hold their own as
an independent, nonprofit organization to secure grants for
programs within the school district.
Gilroy – Unable to take over the Gilroy Educational Foundation, a group of parents of accelerated students is looking to hold their own as an independent, nonprofit organization to secure grants for programs within the school district.
Tentatively, the group is calling itself the OpenGATE Educational Foundation, named in light of the district’s Gifted and Talented Education program.
Although some of the work toward incorporation already is complete, OpenGATE member Bill Hudson said he expects things will really take off after the new year.
“We plan to hit the ground running in the month of January. It’s going to be fast and furious,” he said. “Already I have my eye on some grants I want to go after in the month of January.”
Initially, the OpenGATE group flirted with the idea of taking over the Gilroy Educational Foundation, which is in the midst of being restructured. However, after looking at the various ramifications of that process, OpenGATE decided against it.
Most likely, the Gilroy Educational Foundation will be added as another investment alternative in the Gilroy Foundation, said Steve Brinkman, the district’s assistant superintendent of administrative services.
“It made sense to try to at least move our funds into the Gilroy Foundation because they get better investment returns,” he said.
By attaining status as a nonprofit, the OpenGATE group will be able to apply for grants that primarily will benefit GATE-targeted programs within the Gilroy Unified School District, Hudson said.
The group’s first meeting is planned for Jan. 3 and will be followed by a meeting of the board of directors, which will be decided at the first meeting.
The group will form a committee to seek out grants and complete the application process, receiving information about available grants from a variety of sources including Marcia Brown, the district’s coordinator for student services who manages GATE.
Being near Silicon Valley, Hudson said, many of the grants targeted for schools encourage technology in the classroom.
Hudson said he’s confident and optimistic that having an independent, nonprofit group working to obtain funds will do positive things for Gilroy’s schools.
