A big chunk of the property taxes in Tarrytown and Ossining funds the school districts. State and federal grants also provide money for education, but the districts in the River Towns also get support from another source – education foundations.
Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns
Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns was formed in 1993 “in response to a district budget crisis,” says Executive Director Nicole Novy Schneider. She adds, “Over the last thirty years, we have had the privilege of investing over 10 million dollars into our schools. … The Foundation prioritizes academics, college readiness, the arts, athletics, and the social emotional wellbeing of our students.” She also says they work closely with the educators themselves. “We meet with leadership teams at our schools, including the guidance office, to discuss programming and learn their priorities for funding. … We are an independent non-profit organization that operates closely with, but outside of, the district.” The foundation also has two classroom teachers on the board, and it coordinates with the head of the district. “Dr. Ray Sanchez, our superintendent, is our district liaison, and attends our meetings, along with a representative from the Board of Education,” says Schneider.
Many different parts of the community support the foundation’s efforts. “Our work is made possible entirely by the support of parents and families, community members, local businesses and charitable organizations who share our goal of enriching children’s lives and preparing all district students for success,” says Schneider. And they also host several fundraisers including trivia nights, dueling pianos, and a basketball game featuring the staff versus the Harlem Wizards. The foundation’s “largest and most important fundraiser” is the annual Spring Gala. This year it’ll be held at the Tarrytown House Estate on April 26.
The projects and initiatives supported by the foundation are as diverse as the community itself. They include a sensory wall for kindergarten students, commissioning an Ecuadorian folk song for the string orchestra, an Asian American Cultural Celebration, support for the 8th grade district-wide field trip to Washington, D.C., and a partnership between the 8th grade and the New York Historical Society. They also support Asociacion de Familias Hispanas de los Tarrytown – whose goal is to develop vital literacy skills in the youngest students. The foundation has also created an SEL learning library at W.L. Morse Elementary School, supported the inaugural year of Girls on the Run at Washington Irving Intermediate School, a summer literacy program, and returning the Sleepy Hollow High School Jazz Festival after a five-year hiatus.
“The goal of the foundation is to enhance the educational experience of all our students with programming that cannot be funded within the district budget,” says Schneider.
Ossining MATTERS Education Foundation
Since 2003, Ossining MATTERS Education Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support initiatives in the schools. That includes everything from academics to cultural, arts and athletics projects and programs. And it takes a village, with representatives of the entire community chipping in. “Ossining MATTERS invites teachers and staff within the district to submit grant applications. … We regularly engage with the community and encourage feedback and recommendations,” says Gina Balog-Sartario, the foundation’s president. Then, a committee “comprising board members and community volunteers” reviews the applications and makes recommendations to the board of directors on which grants to fund. Sartario says they choose projects that “will benefit the greatest number of students, address important needs, provide lasting impact, and align closely with the district’s educational goals.”
The foundation works closely with people in the district at all levels. “Ossining MATTERS collaborates with school administration and faculty to develop pilot programs,” says Sartorio. She adds, “Our board members liaise with principals at each Ossining school with whom they communicate regularly.” They also collaborate with the head of the district, “We maintain a great working relationship with the superintendent, principals, and educators and are receptive to any feedback they may have.” But, she adds, Ossining MATTERS has final say in projects “The foundation has maintained a close relationship with the district while upholding its independence”.
Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter speaks highly of the work they do, “Ossining MATTERS plays an invaluable role in enriching the educational experience of our students by funding innovative programs and initiatives that go beyond what the district budget allows. Their partnership with our schools demonstrates a shared commitment to student success.”
The foundation raises most of its money through special events like concerts, plant sales, karaoke events, and galas. “Our primary fundraising event is our annual 5K/2M Run Walk on the Old Croton Aqueduct, held each September,” says Sartario. She adds “Ossining MATTERS solicits donations and gifts in honor of others, including educators. We also actively solicit corporate grants and grants from other foundations.”
Over the past 20+ years the foundation has funded a wide variety of projects. They include the Roosevelt Library redesign and upgrade, the Brookside Bookworms afterschool program, the Guidance Discretionary Fund (assisting students in need by covering expenses such as SAT/ACT fees, advanced placement costs, and college application fees) and the OHS digital media program – just to name a few. “We are focused on events that bring our community together and support the students of the Ossining School District,” says Sartario.
