I am one of the concerned Northshore School District parents who has been working to help the District solve its budget crisis, while not closing a school. Following the School Board’s decision to table the closure of Woodin Elementary for this coming school year, some difficult budget cuts were passed. While I don’t agree with all of the cuts, particularly the cuts to nursing, I understand that the District is facing severe budget shortfalls for the next several years. We continue to work with the District and look forward toward working with the new superintendent toward addressing these issues.

There are steps all of us in the Northshore District area can take to help. The Northshore Public Education Foundation is hosting its annual Light a Fire for Learning luncheon on Wednesday, May 7, at the Lynnwood Convention Center from 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. The Foundation states that “the goal of the luncheon is to raise more than $75,000 that will fund classroom grants as well as math, science and humanities materials that support a rigorous education in all 30 Northshore schools.” Learn more about the Foundation at www.NPEFoundation.org.

Even if you cannot attend the luncheon, I hope you will join me by taking the following step to help: Last week, the federal government began sending nearly every taxpayer a rebate check. Instead of buying that new big screen TV or iPhone, please consider doing what I intend to do. Use the check to make a statement, and invest it in our children’s future. If every household in the District donated just the $300 per child part of the rebate to the Foundation, that would be nearly $5.7 million! If you or your spouse works for one of the local companies that generously match contributions to the Foundation, that’s an automatic 100% return on investment. Think of the curriculum enhancements that could be made throughout our schools. Please join me in supporting all our children in the District and donate generously to the Foundation.