Remember when the High School used to produce a Broadway musical every year? Remember when our Kindergarteners used to receive special art, music, library and gym instruction? Wouldn't it be great if we had a Project Adventure course? Averill Park residents are proud of our schools. But tight budgets, combined with mandated state learning standards, have severely restricted our school district's ability to support creative educational and cultural activities that are fundamentally important to our children's education. If this is a concern to you, then you will be interested in learning more about the recently formed Averill Park Education Foundation.

The Education Foundation is an all-volunteer charitable organization. Its goal is to raise private funds to support innovative educational projects that otherwise would not have the opportunity to be funded through the regular school budget process. Founded by the efforts of a grassroots committee of citizens, it was inspired by the success of similar efforts in neighboring school districts. The Foundation is not affiliated with the School District, and its activities will not cost taxpayers any money.

The Education Foundation will seek tax-exempt contributions from community members, corporations, and larger foundations. Contributions will be used to support educational, cultural and recreational projects that will benefit students in the Averill Park school district. Teachers, students, and community members will be encouraged to help the Foundation identify worthwhile projects.

Following is a list of community residents who are members of the founding committee of the Education Foundation: Mary Arena, Craig Bryce, Ron Choquette, Sandra Doring, Ann Evancoe, Peter Finn, Jennie Glasser, John Glasser, Tom Hart, Al Hayner, Bob Jewell, Jeff Lawrence, Rick Lewis, Erin Loffredo, Ginny McGreevy, Tom McGreevy, Dick Miller, Anne Minehan, Carol Nash, Karen Opalka, Sally Perry, Liz Rogers, Don Rowland, Dori Salisbury, Bridget Ball Shaw, Rudy Stegemoeller, Stephanie Stewart, Sheila Sullivan, and Bob Welch.

If you are interested in participating, or learning more about the Foundation, please contact Dick Miller at 518 674-2960 rwm@capital.net or Bridget Ball Shaw at 518 674-8282 bridget@chrisandbridget.com or send an email to info@averillparkef.org.