FAQ
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1. What is the Alamo Ed Fund?
The Alamo Ed Fund, https://aes-srvusd-ca.schoolloop.com/edfund, is a 501c3 non-profit organization, charged with raising funds to pay for the enrichment teachers (classified and credentialed staff and two contractors) at Alamo school, as well as supplies and technology, that supplement a well-rounded education for our children. Examples of programs funded by the Ed Fund include music, art, technology, para educators (teacher aides), Rainbow Socio-Emotional Room, a reading specialist, and more. The Alamo Ed Fund Board is made up of parent volunteers, the principal, and a teacher rep and is an affiliate of the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, https://srvef.org.
2. Where is the money I donate to the Annual Giving Campaign used?
The Alamo School Education Fund collects voluntary donations on behalf of Alamo School. Your generous donations may be tax-deductible. Our goal for this year’s Annual Giving Campaign is $195,000. Most of the money donated is utilized by the Alamo Education Fund to fund enrichment teacher salaries. Additional funds are utilized for supplies and administrative costs (such as insurance or tax accountant fees). In correlation to the COVID-19 pandemic, this school year required full pre-payment of all salaries supplemented by the Education Fund. For more information on this district request, visit the Ed Fund’s July update at https://alamoschool.wixsite.com/edfundjuly20. A breakdown of how donations are utilized can be found at “What Your Donations Pay For” Document.
3. If the Ed Funds were required to pre-pay the salaries, why do I still need to donate for this school year?
The Alamo Ed Fund, as well as all the affiliate education funds in the school district, were required by the District to pre-pay for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The Alamo Ed Fund used most of its reserves that it had accumulated over the years to prepay the upcoming school year. We are asking for donations that will Fund our art and computer contractors for this school year (which did not need to be prepaid), as well as donations to assist in replenishing the emergency funds we just depleted in case of another unforeseen emergency or unanticipated expense and to augment Ed Fund programs and services. We ask that all families contribute, if possible, to the Ed Fund during its Annual Giving Campaign in August.
4. What teachers exactly are funded and how will these teachers help supplement my child’s education?
The complete list of enrichment teachers and responsibilities can be found in the “What Your Donations Pay For” Document.
5. My student is starting the year remotely, how will positions funded by the Ed Fund be available to assist them?
The enrichment teachers’s job positions in fully remote, hybrid and fully in person are outlined in the “What Your Donations Pay For” Document.
6. My student will be fully remote throughout the school year, regardless if the district offers a hybrid or fully in person model. Will my student still have access to these enrichment teachers for the full school year?
Yes, students in the fully remote model for the school year will continue to access the enrichment teachers virtually as well as receive individual art supply kits and music recorders (3rd grade) for the school year.
7. I see that we need to raise the funds for art and computers. How will computers and art be implemented into my student’s remote learning schedule?
Yes, the art and computers teachers are contracted positions at Alamo Elementary School. These two positions, therefore, did not require district pre-payment. Our hope is that through Annual Giving Campaign fundraising will be met to re-hire these two positions. These two positions ranked as two of the highest in the parent spring survey for working best in the remote world. Principal Salazar has collaborated with both teachers to find a model that works best in all reopening cases. Virtual art classes will be available to each class (individual art supply kits-donations toward these can be made under classroom supplies) as well as virtual computer classes (ie typing program, coding, 3D printing and more) will be available to each class.
8. Is this year’s Annual Giving donation ask different than last year’s?
Yes, last year, the full donation ask was $1,100 per student with a suggested donation of $775. The difference between the full donation and the suggested donation was made up through fundraisers throughout the year, such as the Auction Gala. This year, the Alamo Ed Fund is offering multiple options for your tax deductible Annual Giving Gift, should you choose to participate. All donations are voluntary and any and all levels are appreciated. A. Suggested amount is $580 per student. In response to our program updates, this donation amount is 25% less than the recommended donation from last school year, and 40% less than the full donation amount. B. Select the “Other” option for your specific donation amount. This denomination is not specified but rather considers what is right for your family at this time. C. The pay it forward option is recommended as $680 per student. This donation is created to pay it forward and to help support additional Ed Fund needs/costs.
9. What if I cannot or do want to donate the full donation amount, or if I want to donate more?
Regardless of amount, any and all donations are appreciated. No curriculum or educational experience will be denied to any student regardless of donations.
10. May I pay in installments?
Yes, you have the opportunity to pay in installments through our FutureFund website. Four monthly Installments will be charged to your credit card in the amount of $145 per installment per student.
11. My company has a corporate match program for donations. What would be the next steps to have my company match my donation?
FutureFund will email you a PDF receipt for you to submit to your employer. The receipt is also available at any time in your FutureFund account when you login. For specific questions about corporate match, please reach out to our Corporate Match Chair Alicia Allyn at alicia.allyn@gmail.com.
12. If we raise money over and beyond the goal of $195,000, how will those additional funds be allocated?
Additional funds will be considered for special projects, programs and technology that may further enrich our children’s education and safety at school. Examples include individual supplies, enrichment programs, professional development for our teachers, and more. To the extent there are unused funds, they will be allocated to reserves.
13. What happens if the Ed Fund does not reach its financial goal?
Ideally, the Ed Fund will reach its goal during the Annual Giving Campaign so that it does not need to reach out to families for funding during this school year. If necessary, the Ed Fund will continue to fundraise during the year through Square1art, Amazon Smile and Teacher Treats (if in person activities are permitted) in an effort to reach its goal. There will be no gala this school year.
14. What other ways may I help the Ed Fund?
Please join Amazon Smile, where 0.5% of your Amazon purchases go back to the Alamo Ed Fund. For more details and to sign up today, visit: https://smile.amazon.com/ and choose Alamo Elementary SRVED Fund.
15. I would like to pay my Alamo Ed Fund donations by check or cash. May I?
Yes, for Ed Fund donations for the Annual Giving Campaign, chorus and instrumental music/band, please make checks payable to the Alamo Ed Fund and mail to Attention: Alamo Education Fund, Accounts Receivable, Alamo School, 100 Wilson Road, Alamo, CA 94507.
16. I still had a question not answered above.
We are here to help!
Please email our Annual Giving Chair and Ed Fund VP Kelly Bowes at: kellyb_johnson@hotmail.com or alamoschooleducationfund@gmail.com.
Thank you for your support!
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