Group inviting members
CONNELLSVILLE – An academic foundation aimed at assisting Connellsville Area School District students achieve their goals and teachers offer innovative programs is seeking interested parents, alumni and local residents to oversee its formulation and future fund raising for the organization. “The legal paperwork is done. All we need is the officers and we’re ready to go,” said Ed Zadylak, board member and Connellsville Area Falcon Foundation organizer.
The inaugural meeting will be held tonight at the Connellsville Area High School, in Room 128 at 7.
Zadylak proposed the formulation of the foundation shortly after taking his seat on the school board in January.
“We have booster organizations for football, baseball and other sports, why not one for academics?” he said. “Other schools have them and they’ve done very well.”
Zadylak said that the Connellsville organization would be similar to the Laurel Highlands Academic Foundation that has successfully raised more than $180,000 through donor contributions and fund-raising activities since its inception in 1996.
Through the foundation, the Laurel Highlands schools have established artist/author residence programs for its elementary school, an annual community spirit day, SAT workshops for high school students, Shakespeare and opera in school programs, family reading night and provided mini-grant programs for teachers to develop new and innovative projects and programs.
The Connellsville foundation would be a separate entity that would have sole authority to allocate its funds to academic projects it thought worthy of support.
District Superintendent James Duncan and future superintendents will serve as administrative liaison with the board president holding a non-voting position.
“I believe this is an excellent idea,” said Duncan.
“I believe we do an excellent job with the (state and federal tax) dollars allocated, but there is always more out there we could do if the money was available.”
Zadylak said that as an alumnus of Geibel Catholic High School, Fairmont State College and West Virginia University, he contributes to the associated foundations to promote academic excellence and hopes the Connellsville initiative also draws the interest of those who have passed through the district school hallways along with businesses, corporations and other entities.
“We want our students to have all the tools necessary to succeed in life,” he said. “This foundation is a step in that direction.”
District residents interested in serving on the board of directors are encouraged to attend the meeting.