Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

CORE funds guaranteed for tech hours at elementary, middle schools
Move allows schools to begin their own fundraising efforts

by Glenn Wohltmann

The Pleasanton Unified School District Board accepted a guarantee at a July 14 meeting that will bring half-time tech support to the district's elementary and middle schools.

Last month, the board refused to make up the difference between the CORE (Community OutReach for Education) campaign that would have bumped the schools to the next level. The money would have come from the Sycamore Fund; board members Valerie Arkin and Jamie Hintzke voted against the spending, and since allocations from the fund need approval by four of the five members, that motion failed.

The Pleasanton Partnerships in Education (PPIE) -- which spearheaded the CORE campaign -- has guaranteed the difference, which is now $7,100, using $13,923 in undesignated donations, those that came in without a requirement to spend them at a specific grade level, to increase staff hours at the schools. The CORE campaign is slated to run until the end of September, with discount coupon books from local merchants being sold at a number of places, including the Friday night concerts in the park.

The techs will be rehired next month thanks to the guarantee, and school PTAs have been freed to do their own fundraising to add extra hours to techs or library assistants.

The brief meeting was the first run by new Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi, who praised CORE's effort, and that of PPIE spokeswoman Debi Covello in particular.

"I can't tell you how impressed I am by her organization," Ahmadi said.

The board also hired Ahmadi's assistant from the Fremont school district, Roseanne Pryor, to replace Carol Fernandez, the superintendent's administrative assistant, who is retiring.

The board also unanimously agreed, for the first time ever, not to expel a student based on the recommendation of a school hearing panel. The student, from Foothill High School, must abide by a rehabilitation plan.