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Local Philanthropy Headlines
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"Charitable Giving - Local Foundations Show Support for Baltimore School System "
Betsy Nelson
The Daily Record
March 5, 2004
Last week, more than 40 foundation representatives met with Dr. Bonnie Copeland, CEO of the Baltimore City Public Schools System, to learn first hand about the system's financial crisis and the funding needed to achieve fiscal accountability and to continue academic reform.
Although the compromise with Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Mayor Martin O'Malley, Nancy Grasmick, and the Maryland state legislature to address the system's $58 million deficit and $58 million cash flow problem had not been finalized, there was clear support from funders for Copeland's efforts to enhance achievement among Baltimore's public school children.
While funders agreed that fiscal accountability is essential, they also voiced concern that the current funding crisis not derail the significant improvement in student achievement that the system has made over the past five years.
Several funders noted that while the Baltimore City Public School System is chronically under funded, it continues to make steady progress towards meeting the needs of Baltimore City students. Funders present at the briefing did not question that Baltimore City Public Schools would continue to be a good investment of their dollars.
Over the years, local and national funders have strategically invested in innovative efforts to enhance public education in Baltimore. These investments have increased over the last five years. For example, in 2001 11 local and national foundations contributed $20.75 million for a five year high school reform initiative.
The list of private foundation support for BCPSS initiatives also includes funding to start new, small schools such as the Midtown Academy, to provide new school libraries, and to enable Teach for America to bring energetic, new teachers to Baltimore schools.
The Baltimore City Public Schools System is also attracting highly sought-after national foundation investments through key community and business partnerships. The Gates Foundation is a major investor in the high school reform effort mentioned above. More recently, the MacArthur Foundation awarded a grant to perform professional development and curriculum audits of the system. MacArthur's funding allows BCPSS to engage some of the best thinkers in education to help prioritize and align curriculum and staff training —two core functions of the school system.
Grants such as these should build the confidence of the Baltimore community in its public schools for at least two reasons. First, these efforts indicate that BCPSS understands the need to fundamentally rethink the delivery of instructional services and to draw on national experts for help in these efforts. Second, these grants, and others like them, are a very good indication that national foundations also see the BCPSS as a good investment.
At this meeting, funders agreed that it is time for a quick and fair resolution to the Baltimore City School System financial crisis so the focus can broaden from strictly dollars and cents to academics. While new financial controls are clearly called for, local funders recognize that additional public and private dollars are essential if Baltimore is to bring about real improvement in academic achievement.
Funders reiterated their willingness to support Bonnie Copeland and invest in the system's efforts to provide a high quality education to all Baltimore City children. And, they called upon Maryland's public officials to do the same.
Copyright 2004 © The Daily Record. All Rights Reserved.
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