Education EDGE Overview
Seven community leaders, change agents who believe in the importance of public education, stepped forward in 2003 to work with the Wichita Public Schools to create the Education EDGE. This unique partnership with the Wichita Community Foundation established the district’s first educational foundation. It was created as an opportunity to allow private donors to support three key areas within the Wichita Public Schools not adequately supported by traditional funding resources – classroom mini-grants, fine arts and athletics. All gifts received by the Education EDGE are devoted to these “gift fund” areas, all of which are critical to stimulating creativity and building strong connections between students and their schools.
The Education EDGE was established by BOE policy in February 2003 (P1411), and Steering Team members – community leaders with a passion for education and a commitment to the Wichita Public Schools - were recruited by the Superintendent and Board of Education to lead this new venture. The seven leaders who lead the Education EDGE represent the highest-caliber of Wichita community volunteers. Leaders in their own field as well, Steering Team members include: Suzie Ahlstrand, Vice President of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce; Kimberly Edmunds, Vice President and General Manager Cox Communications; Bill Hanna, Retired President of Koch Industries; Ross Hollander - Managing Partner at Joseph & Hollander law firm (steering team chairperson); Ron Holt, Director of Culture and Recreation, Sedgwick County; Mike Michaelis, Chairman, Emprise Bank; and Chris Shank, Vice-President, HRH of Kansas. Rosalia Nolan, Director of Corporate Finance and Audit, Koch Industries, was one of the original Steering Team members who has transitioned off the leadership team.
The Steering Team identified that a strong commitment by district staff was essential before moving to corporate and community solicitation. Since fall 2004, Steering Team members and other volunteers have taken the Education EDGE message to district staff. More than 100 presentations each year in district schools and non-attendance centers have secured pledges and contributions to support classroom mini-grants, fine arts, and athletics initiatives.
As of February 2007, their efforts resulted in nearly 800 pledges totaling just over $366,000. Of the approximately 800 donors, 210 have stepped forward to become “Founders,” giving or pledging $1,000 or more to the Education EDGE. This extraordinary commitment has been made by district staff, retirees and volunteers – a tremendous vote of confidence in the Education EDGE campaign.
Throughout 2006, Education EDGE Steering Team leaders took the Education EDGE story to the community. The goal – raise a minimum of $1 million from 20 organizations. Success was achieved in December 2006, with a total amount raised from corporate partners of nearly $1.1 million. Combined with internal commitments of over $366,000, funds raised or pledged to support classroom mini-grants, athletics and fine arts amounts to more than $1.4 million! To insure the benefit for years to come, 10 percent of each gift is placed into an endowment fund as allowed by the donor.
Steering Team members are now working with the Staff Support Team, Gift Fund Teams (designed to provide leadership and support to each of the three gift fund areas), district administration and others to conduct a series of events on February 12, 2007, to celebrate success with the community.
Investment of Education EDGE funds in support of teachers and students is already occurring. From the classroom mini-grant fund, nearly $50,000 has been distributed over the last two years in support of 14 mini-grant applications. These awards – up to $1,500 for an individual teacher grant or $5,000 for a teacher team grant – have been announced in schools with surprise visits to classrooms. These competitive grants are judged by a team of current and retired teachers and administrators as well as community volunteers, and have become highly desirable, recognizable opportunities to stimulate creativity in the classroom.
More than $56,000 has been invested in fine arts priorities over the last two years. Students and teachers have benefited through the purchase of beginner music instruments, kilns, potters wheels, digital cameras and much-needed auditorium lighting. From the athletics gift fund, $10,500 has been invested in minor sports uniforms at each high school to replace worn-out uniforms that schools haven’t previously been able to fund. The major athletic gift fund priorities are quite expensive (including new tracks to replace old cinder tracks), so the investment strategy has been somewhat conservative in order to accumulate the resources necessary to support these major needs.
Education EDGE Steering Team efforts have gone well above and beyond regular volunteering. It has taken literally hundreds of personal hours and hundreds of individual contacts by each Steering Team member representing the Wichita Public Schools to the Wichita community. In partnership with Superintendent Winston Brooks, these leaders have been true ambassadors of the district to the corporate and foundation world. Their efforts to establish a foundation for the Wichita Public Schools have become a true inspiration for many in the community, and their construction is becoming a model for other districts.
The Education EDGE Steering Team’s efforts will assure much-needed support for athletics, fine arts and classroom mini-grant priorities for years to come. Their vision will also support the vital connection of students to their schools, and inspire additional creative ventures in the classroom – all in support of the district’s mission to increase student achievement!