ABOUT THE BSF
Background
The Berthoud Schools Fund (BSF) was established in 2008 to provide supplemental funds, i.e. funds beyond what the Thompson School District can provide, for equipment and instructional resources to enhance educational opportunities for students in the Berthoud public schools. From its first two fundraisers in 2009 and 2010, BSF has provided more than $100,000 worth of 21st century technology — Promethean (interactive white) boards and projectors, document cameras, laptop computers, netbooks, and flip cameras — for Berthoud High School, Turner Middle School, Berthoud Elementary, Ivy Stockwell Elementary, and the Berthoud Early Childhood Center. The principals of the five schools stated that receiving the aforementioned technology was their first priority.
The board of directors of BSF raises money through a single fundraising venture each year, called the Berthoud BASH. Held in the spring, the BASH includes a sit-down dinner held at the Embassy Suites near Loveland, followed by a live and silent auction of donated items. Attendance at the first two years’ events has numbered approximately 250. The 2011 BASH — dubbed Stars and Stripes and Megabytes — is set for April 9.
Governance
BSF supports Berthoud schools through fundraising but is not part of the Thompson School District.
BSF operates under the umbrella of the Thompson R2-J Education Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, and uses the foundation’s 501(c)3 tax-exempt designation. The foundation provides bookkeeping, accounting, and other business services for BSF for a nominal amount.
BSF is not involved in school-policy issues nor in the workings of PTO or sports’ booster organizations.
All members of the BSF board of directors reside in the Berthoud schools’ attendance area and either currently have or have had students in local schools. Current officers are Scott Cavey, president; Jim Fate, vice-president; and Nicole Corlett, treasurer. Other board members are Brad Pickert, Don Keck, Jennifer Farnham, Joan Nienaber, Kevin Conlon, and Stu Boyd.
Benefits to the School and Community
BSF provides community members a tax-deductible way to support Berthoud schools and to know that their gifts will be used to purchase equipment and other resources that the schools have requested.
2011 Focus
Berthoud schools’ principals have asked that 2011 funds be used to replace outdated and nonfunctioning computers and purchase additional computers. They have also identified instructional software, site licenses, and related professional development training which they would like to receive through 2011 BASH proceeds.
Due to a $6,000,000 cut in funds in 2010-2011 and another $6,000,000 anticipated cut in 2011-2012, the school district has informed principals that the district’s ability to replace old computers and purchase additional ones will be seriously impacted. Therefore, BSF has chosen this need to be the focus of our 2011 fundraising.
