The
MSASC administration has determined that it is in the best interest of our
school to adjust our annual fund-raising approach.
As of this spring, MSASC
is launching an “Annual Fund Drive” to collect $600 per year ($300 each
semester). We are asking all our families to make a personal financial
commitment in support of our school’s curriculum.
Why do we ask
our families to make a financial contribution to our school?We ask
for financial support in order to help better sustain our school, STEM
curriculum, and other programs. We do it for our children. There is never a
shortage of financial needs in public education. Each year our schools, and
school business office, are in need of balancing the budget and to pay for
overhead, expenses, salaries and bills and planning for the shortfalls in the
state’s budget and funding. We ask families to give so we can have a more
successful program. While some families may have the means to do more than
others, we do encourage ALL families to participate in supporting this
education, which is so rich and generous, in itself, towards our families and
children.
California ranks among the last in the nation in per-pupil
spending, and the funds that the state provides must often be supplemented by
the generous support of parents, grandparents and community members. Virtually
every public school in California — not just charter schools — must fundraise
from families in order to continue quality programs like Science, Technology and
foreign languages. There is a shortfall between the funds that the state
provides for a basic public education and the enriched education offered at
Magnolia Science Academy.
Your contributions help bridge this gap and keeps
our school alive and well with the rich, creative STEM curriculum that benefits
our children.
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1)
What is the Annual Fund Drive?The Annual Fund Drive is the
centerpiece of the MSA Santa Clara’s fundraising efforts. The Fund Drive will
help us maintain many of our specialties and curriculum programs that are not
funded by the State of California education-funding model. The money raised
during the Fund Drive is a crucial portion of our annual operating budget. This
semester based fund-raising effort raises money that is essential for ensuring
the quality of the educational experience for our students.
Every year we ask
and invite all the families with children enrolled at MSASC to invest in their
children’s education by making a monthly pledge as a tax-deductible annual gift
for MSASC. Families are asked to please consider contributing, and budgeting
for, $50 each month for each student enrolled at Magnolia Science Academy.
While you can make these donations on a monthly basis, we prefer to have them
each semester. You are welcome to donate a one lump sum during the year. We
invite you to choose a plan that works for your family. Please review our annual
pledge form, fill it out completely and return it to the front office. As the
school is a non-profit organization, donations are tax deductible to the extent
allowed by law.
2) Do Charter Schools receive less money than
traditional public schools?Yes. Charter Schools receive a specified
amount of public money for each enrolled child. Unlike other public schools,
however, Charter Schools do not receive capital funding to cover the cost of
obtaining or leasing a building. Charter Schools also receive no additional
funding for specialized programs. This method of funding leaves Charter Schools
at a financial disadvantage as compared to other public schools. “The 1992
legislation that authorized charter schools in California created a funding
model intended to provide charter schools with the same per-pupil operational
funding as received by other schools in the same school district. The state
subsequently modified this policy in 1998, enacting legislation specifying that
“charter school operational funding shall be equal to the total funding that
would be available to a similar school district serving a similar pupil
population.” This policy remains in place.” This policy presents 7% inequity in
funding for charter schools in the State of California. We must do more with
less. The California Charter School Association, the lobbying agency for all
California charter schools is fighting this policy on our behalf.
3)
Why does MSA Santa Clara have additional financial burdens beyond most other
public/charter schools?MSA Santa Clara pays $475,000 (15% of the
budget) rent for the facilities. Due to demographic differences, MSA Santa Clara
receives $270,000 less in Title I funding and Economic Impact Aid when compared
to similar size Magnolia schools (8% of the budget). Moreover, MSA Santa Clara
teaches much more than the state standards. There is no state standard for
Robotics, AMSP, Science Fair Projects, Science Olympiads, and the state does not
require Computer or Foreign language classes at the Middle school level.
Providing faculty, materials and supplies for our curriculum and these programs
cost our school money, and these programs are unfunded as determined by state
standards. An increase in programs requires more facility space for programs
such as foreign languages and computers. All of these rich Magnolia components
increase our annual operating budget. Here is a comparison of ADA funding for
MSA Santa Clara and other schools in the area as well as other Magnolia
schools:
Magnolia Science Academy SC: $5,679University
Preparatory Academy: $6,312
Rocketship Los Suenos $6,011
Flex Academy
$6,034
Alum Rock Union Elementary
$6,662
KIPP Heartwood Academy
$6,167
Bridges Academy $6,169
Leadership Public School
$7,107
Summit Public School $6,708
KIPP San Jose $6,809
San Jose
Conservation Corps Charter $7,429
Fremont Union High $8,311
Los
Gatos-Saratog Joint Union High $10,542
Mountain View-Los Altos Union High
$12,833
Santa Clara Unified $6,992
Milpitas Unified $7,144
San Jose
Unified $7,424
Rocketship Mateo $6,640
Other Magnolia Schools:
MSA
1
$6,390
MSA 2
$6,188
MSA 3
$6,104
MSA 4
$6,211
MSA 5
$6,116
MSA Bell
$6,125
4) Why am I being
asked to give money? Isn't this a public school?California ranks
among the last in the nation in per-pupil spending and the funds that the state
provides must often be supplemented by the generous support of parents,
grandparents and community members. Virtually every public school in California
— not just charter schools — must fundraise from families in order to continue
quality programs like Computers, Advanced Math, Art and Foreign languages. There
is a shortfall between the funds that the state provides for a basic public
education and the enriched education offered at MSASC.
5) Do other
schools ask the parent and school communities for financial
contributions?Yes, virtual all public, charter and private schools
do ask for financial support whether they are elementary, middle, high school or
college institutions.
6) How did the MSASC come up with the suggested
monthly donation figure of $600 per student?The suggested annual
donation of $600 per student was derived in order to meet the State of
California ADA funding shortfall, while also considering the reality that not
all families can make a financial commitment of $50 per month; therefore we ask
more for those who can do more. Beyond the ADA funding shortfall, MSA is
currently operating at a “bare bones” curriculum and programming level. To fund
our school beyond its current programming level, MSA does need to raise more
money than the ADA shortfall, alone. If we are to grow the quality of our school
programs, we must raise these additional dollars. We are certain most MSA SC
families will prioritize this Magnolia education opportunity for themselves and
will consider budgeting $50 per month for their child(ren) to receive this rich
and nurturing experience.
7) Where do my Annual Fund Drive donations
go?Your donations to the Annual Fund Drive directly support MSA
Santa Clara. Funds are allocated by the Magnolia Board of Directors and Finance
Committee, which manage and approve the school’s annual operating budget.
Program and curriculum are the top priorities of our Board of Directors and
Faculty.
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8)
Are my donations tax-deductible?Yes. The Magnolia Public Schools is
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You generous donation is
tax-deductible.
9) What is the most beneficial way for me to pledge?
And what is the most ideal pledge amount for the school?The most
beneficial way for you to pledge is online at:
http://santaclara.magnoliascience.org/. You can also
make payments by writing a check to Magnolia Science Academy Santa Clara. The
most ideal pledge amount for MSASC is the suggested giving amount of $600. While
some people are able to give at this level or higher, realistically some people
are not. If you are able to make the sacrifice, investment and commitment to
MSASC by pledging $300 per semester, all of our community would benefit
greatly.
10) If I make a pledge, do I have to pay
immediately?No. If you make a pledge to MSASC today, you commit to
making your gift contribution in the future. MSASC is hopeful that all families
will make a monthly gift contribution of an amount that is meaningful and
sustainable for them. Pledges can be made online at:
http://santaclara.magnoliascience.org11)
Are Annual Fund Drive donations voluntary?All donations to MSASC
are voluntary. Your decision to participate and the amount have no impact on
whether a child is accepted for enrollment or continues to be enrolled in MSASC.
However, we want every family to understand that while government funding
provides a basic free education to all children, the STEM curriculum and
enrichment programs offered at MSA relies on parent participation, including
financial and volunteer time contributions. We ask that all families participate
in making a meaningful donation to MSASC. If this curriculum is a priority for
your family, we ask that you consider a gift contribution that is satisfactory
to your appreciation of our school.
Our goal for the Annual Fund Drive is 100%
participation among MSASC families to support our children’s’ education. We
encourage every family to give as generously as possible. Every gift—whatever
the size— is gratefully received and strengthens our community.
12)
Can you show me how money earned through the Annual Fund Drive will be
spent?The school’s finances and budget are public documents. The
budget provides donors and our community with the school’s overall financial
picture, including the funds raised and operations budget
expenditures.
13) Will the Annual Fund Drive fundraising have impact
on my child’s class?Yes, money raised during the Annual Fund Drive
directly, and indirectly, affects each class and each student at MSASC. Whether
the school can afford to retain the high-caliber of teachers we currently have
and maintain the level of specialties offered each year is determined by the
success of our Annual Fund Drive giving campaigns.
14) Can I fund a
specific grade, program or specialty class?Money raised during the
Annual Fund Drive cannot be accepted as a restricted or directed gift. The MPS
Board of Directors and MPS Finance Committee together with the school principal
manage the MSASC annual operating budget and set the priorities of program and
curriculum goals each year.
15) Is the money raised during the Annual
Fund Drive used for teachers and staff?Money raised during the
Annual Fund Drive does affect the quality, caliber and retention of our faculty
and staff. We hold our school to high standards. If we are not able to fund our
rich STEM curriculum including faculty & staff salaries and benefits, the
school could be at a risk of losing valuable faculty and staff
members.
16) I volunteer so many hours to the school, why should I
give money on top of that?Volunteerism is the cornerstone of
charter school education. When families chose to enroll their child or children
in a charter school there is an expectation of volunteering. Volunteering
directly supports class teachers and classrooms, governing bodies and festivals
and other school events. While your volunteering is crucial to the success of
our school and your child’s education and directly aids our teachers and
curriculum, MSASC must also stay financially viable. Therefore, fundraising and
financial support do go hand-in-hand with volunteerism and both are equally
important.
17) What if I can’t give the suggested
amount?It is understandable that some families are able to make an
annual contribution to the MSASC that exceeds our suggested gift amount of $50
per month. It is also understandable that some families are not able to make
this level of financial commitment. We ask that families consider our school’s
offerings as a priority for their family in giving a gift that is
meaningful.
18) What if my monthly income is unpredictable or drops
and I cannot pay the amount that I signed up for?We ask each MSASC
family to make an annual pledge that is meaningful and fiscally comfortable. If
at any time you would like to increase or decrease your pledge contribution,
please contact the MSASC operations manager to adjust your
pledge.
19) If everyone donated $600/student, what would our school
look like?If each of our community of families was able to commit
to contributing $300/per semester our school would be in the position to provide
our faculty and staff with much-deserved and equitable raises. MSASC could also
maintain all specialties programs such as Advanced Math, Foreign Languages, Art,
Robotics, Computers, AMSP as well as provide a great portion of funding to all
students for class field trips, athletics, after-school and other programs.
MSASC would also be able to expand upon our current curriculum by adding a
successful high school program.
20) What if I don’t give
anything?If all of our families chose not to give a financial
donation to our school, MSASC would look very different. Some of our specialties
programs (Foreign Languages, Computer, AMSP, Robotics, Advanced Math) would be
cut from our curriculum. Our caliber of faculty and staff would be diminished,
as MSASC would not be able to keep our already over-qualified and under-paid
faculty.
We are confident that our community and families have chosen to be
at MSASC because it is the best educational opportunity for their children to
receive a rich, broad, nurturing education that meets the needs of your child.
We have the highest API score among Middle schools, and would like to continue
to provide the best education possible.
21) What is
ADA?ADA stands for “Average Daily Attendance.” The state of
California funds school districts based on each student’s daily recorded
attendance. ADA is calculated by dividing the total number of days of student
attendance by the number of days of school taught during the same period. MSASC
budgets for program and curriculum based upon projected enrollment and ADA.
Additionally, when students do not attend class or school, MSASC loses that
daily funding, which equals about $33.50 per
day.
