School-Force

Contact School-Force at www.School-Force.org.

I spent almost two years on the School-Force Board, as Secretary and Communications Co-chair. I was an active participant in setting policy as a member of the School-Force board. In addition, I wrote newsletters, worked on the website, worked phone banks, worked the booth at the first Save The Music Festival, took and published meeting minutes, and During that time, I saw the focused dedication of both the Belmont and Redwood Shores parent community. I also realized that the community at large -- residents without children, empty nesters, seniors, business owners and real estate agents -- also contributes to School-Force. As a community, we are are lucky to have such a dedicated population.

The latest Save the Music Festival in the Park was one of School-Force's premier fundraising efforts. At the Festival on October 14 in Twin Pines Park, I browsed booths, listened to great music, talked to friends, bought a pressed glass necklace, and had some fun. This year's event was a joint effort by School-Force, The City of Belmont, and the Belmont Chamber of Commerce.

School-Force is the Belmont - Redwood Shores Public Education Foundation; its efforts support our K-12 Public Schools.

At Ralston Middle School Back-to-School night last night (9-19), School-Force leader Brad Jung said that it costs about $10,000 per year, per student to provide a quality education for our children. The Belmont-Redwood Shores Schools only get $7,000 per student (which comes primarily from property tax paybacks from the state). So, it's up to us as parents and the community at large to make up the difference.