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On this page, our goal is to provide the most up to date news regarding the Foundation and education funding. Below are articles or links to articles about the Foundation. For related topics such as school funding or state "report cards" on school performance, etc... please click on the links in the sidebar to the right.
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Back in Sept 2010, two girls at Bryant Elementary School came up with an idea to write, produce, direct and act in a play to raise money for the Lake Oswego School Foundation. Olivia Case (left) and Maggie Wu (right), now fifth graders, had a vision, the drive and the maturity to follow through with a project over an entire school year. The play is titled “Romeow and Drooliet”. According to Melinda Andrew, the LOSD Foundation co-captain at Bryant, “Maggie and Olivia’s production was met with rave reviews and standing ovations.” |
| Here is a summary of the accomplishment of these two girls. The students wrote an entire play by themselves. They met with the principal to get approval of their idea and play. They wrote, drew, and hung posters announcing try outs for their play. They hosted auditions and cast students in the play. They hosted practice throughout the year during recess. They worked directly with the principal to arrange for the location and seating of their play. |
| They managed props, costumes and staging. They held a dress rehearsal. They decided to charge $1 person to see their play. People showed up on opening night to watch a play written and directed by two fifth grade girls, with a little help from their friends. The girls made $88 to contribute to the LOSD Foundation. According to Melinda Andrew, “There may be larger contributions, but there are none that speak louder to the commitment of our students to be active participants in their own education”. |
 This week the LOSD Foundation received an especially meaningful contribution. Julia Montgomery (seen left with Forest Hills Principal Gwen Hill), a second grader at Forest Hills Elementary School, brought in her piggy bank and donated the contents to the LOSD Foundation. This gift amounted to $72.80. Julia included a special card stating “I want to donate all the money in my piggy bank which I have been saving for three years. I really really really really hope this helps!”
Principal Hill noted that this is just one example of Julia’s generosity and caring, adding “she certainly is a model for what it takes to make our school and community wonderful places to live”. The LOSD Foundation truly appreciates this special gift – thanks Julia! |
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| By Nicole Dungca, The Oregonian Tuesday, March 01, 2011 |
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| The Bank of Oswego will be making a $100,000 donation to the Lake Oswego School District Foundation over the next five years, the bank announced last week. |
| "We recognize the importance of retaining teachers and keeping class sizes small, so that Lake Oswego schools can continue to be the best in the state," said the bank's president Dan Heine in a press release. He also referred to the donation as "one of the most important requests" the bank has received since it began. |
| In addition, the bank will underwrite an advertising campaign called "Don't Fail Our Schools," which will use print advertisements, street banners, yard signs, and mail to encourage the community to donate to the district's non-profit foundation. The foundation, which puts all the donations directly toward teacher salaries and is known for being a fundraising powerhouse, garnered about $1.4 million last year. |
| The foundation has encouraged donations all year, but recently kicked up the intensity of its campaign. With more fundraisers and an online video, the foundation is urging community members to help the district, which is currently considering controversial school closures. The foundation's president, John Stirek, stressed that a $750 donation made on behalf of each of the district's 6,767 students could plug the $5 million to $8 million gap the district says it will face next year. |
| In a video on the Lake Oswego School District Foundation's website and YouTube, well-known local figures -- including Mayor Jack Hoffman and Jerry Wheeler, the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce -- join other community members to talk about the importance of schools. Heine also makes an appearance, mentioning the bank's partnership with the foundation and saying "our kids are the future of this great, unique community of Lake Oswego." |
| (You can watch the video on our Home Page) |
| Superintendent Bill Korach called Heine's announcement "tremendous." |
| "I think all of these kinds of things make a difference," he said. "There's not only awareness of developing what's important, what matters, and how people can help, but also a tremendous energy that one generates because of these kinds of donations." |
| Korach made his own gesture last month, when he announced he would begin drawing his retirement pay to donate his salary of about $140,000 to one classified and one teaching position. He called the decision his way of "stepping up," saying he would be calling upon others to help in many other ways. |
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By Rebecca Randall The Lake Oswego Review, Dec 1, 2010, |
The Lake Oswego School District Foundation has received 54 percent of its goal for the endowment fundraising program. The foundation announced in August a $500,000 matching gift with the goal of reaching $1 million by next year. Read More...
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 Heather Aholt (right), a Senior at Lake Oswego High School, hosted two piano recitals this past summer to support the Lake Oswego School District Foundation. In the first recital last June, Heather partnered with her brother Chris (LOHS class of 2010, now a freshman at Stanford). The siblings hosted the event at home for over 20 family and friends. The recital was so successful that Heather decided to offer an encore performance in early September. Together, the events netted $725 for the Lake Oswego School District Foundation. The siblings wanted to do something to support the LOHS band and orchestra programs, as well as the Lake Oswego School District Foundation. |
| Heather has studied classical piano since age 5, and both Heather and Chris have given recitals for residents at local retirement homes, including Mary’s Woods in Lake Oswego, so neither are new to performing. |
“Chris and I have had great experiences with the LOHS music programs”, says Heather, “We are really grateful to all of our teachers and glad to do what we can to give back.”
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 Staff photo / Vern Uyetake / lake oswego review |
| Mary Puskas, executive director of the LOSD Foundation, Kevin Robertson, a foundation board member, and John Stirek, foundation president, are trying to raise the visibility for the Stafford Society Endowment Fund. Stirek and his wife Kate provided a $250,000 matching gift — one of two given — to the endowment hoping to encourage others. |
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By Rebecca Randall The Lake Oswego Review, Aug 26, 2010
John Stirek, a 1978 graduate of Lakeridge High School, considers himself lucky to have had the education that he received in Lake Oswego and wants future generations to have the same opportunity.
Stirek and his wife Kate Stirek hope to ensure this goal by giving a $250,000 matching donation to the Lake Oswego School District Stafford Society Endowment Fund. Another donor, who chose to remain anonymous, donated a second matching gift of $250,000. “I’m passionate for public education and the opportunity that a great academic experience can provide you,” said Stirek. Read More... |
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If you come across news items about the Foundation or Lake Oswego School District regarding educational funding, school/teacher performance, curriculum, etc..., please let us know. Contact Foundation Director Mary Puskas at
(503) 534-2106 or email puskasm@loswego.k12.or.us. |
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