$350K drive for computers launched
POTTSTOWN » The Foundation for Pottstown Education Wednesday announced an ambitious $350,000 capital fund drive to purchase 1,000 Chromebook computers for the school district’s students.
The announcement received an immediate boost from two major donors.
The Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation announced a $100,000 matching grant.
This was followed up by the announcement of a $50,000 contribution from an anonymous Hill School alum.
“It’s a huge task, but a task that’s doable,” said Joe Rusiewicz, executive director of the education foundation.
The drive comes amidst the closing of all Pennsylvania schools due to the coronavirus pandemic. As wealthier districts pivoted with relative ease to online learning, Pottstown Schools scrambled to ensure all their students had the equipment necessary to participate.
“What a roller coaster ride coronavirus has been,” said Pottstown Schools Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez. “We
went from the depths of despair, asking ourselves what we do, to moving forward one step at a time.”
He added, “1,000 Chromebooks will do tremendous things. No matter what life throws at us in the future, our students will be ready to learn.”
After the computer shortage was highlighted in The Mercury, about 25 percent of Pottstown’s student population has either or both no computer or no Internet access at home, an anonymous donor provided $60,000 to the foundation to help purchase the computers.
“But it is still not enough,” Rusiewicz said during a Pottstown leadership breakfast meeting Wednesday conducted, ironically enough, online.
He thanked that donor for “getting the ball rolling,” adding that the $60,000 donation does not count toward the Health and Wellness Foundation match.
Rodriguez said although the district had previously purchased Chromebook computers for every high school student, the lower grades have gaps.
Those gaps kept the district’s elementary students from receiving any new learning learning for nearly a month. New lessons began for the elementary grades on Monday.
“The level of educational attainment is increasingly being recognized as an important social determinant of health, said Dave Kraybill, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation president. “The deep connections students have with their teachers and their peers are key to their future and vital to their wellbeing.”
“We’re confident the community will reach this goal quickly,” said John Robertson, a spokesman for the foundation.
Cathy Skitko, senior director of institutional public relations for The Hill School, said the donation from the anonymous alum was arranged through Headmaster Zachary Lehman.
“We are very hopeful this will allow the school district to continue providing a first-rate education to the children of Pottstown,” Lehman said in a prepared statement. “We applaud the District’s leadership, and remain eager to discuss future collaborative programming and an even stronger partnership between our institutions.”
Lehman added, “I am humbled by what Superintendent Rodriguez and his team are doing for our community.”
“As Hill and Pottstown celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we are delighted to support the District’s outstanding efforts and to recognize all teachers who are working so diligently in these times requiring innovation, flexibility, and extraordinary student-focused commitment,” said Lehman.
“Thank you so much to all the helping helping us,” said Pottstown School Board President Amy Francis. “This situation has been the cause of many sleepless night, but I know we can do this because there is nothing Pottstown does better than rally behind a cause.”
Advocates of fair school funding have pointed out how the computer shortage in Pottstown highlights Pennsylvania one of the nation’s most inequitable states for school funding.
Should the state actually provide public school school funding according to its own “fair funding formula,” Pottstown would receive an additional $13 million a year to account for its diminished tax base and higher population of low-income residents.
“We need to continue to bridge the gap of inequality of funding our schools and make sure that all students are on a level playing field,” Rusiewicz said. “That is why our board took the steps to begin this campaign.”
The campaign has a good chance of success, said Pottstown School Board member and public relations director John Armato.
“This is one thing I have always believed about Pottstown,” said Armato. “What Pottstown does best is come together in a time of crisis to help all who need help.”
Those wishing to donate can send a check payable to the Foundation for Pottstown Education to 230 Beech St., Pottstown, PA 19464. Online donations can be made at the foundation’s web site — www. foundationpottstowned.org/donate — and selecting “Chromebooks” in the donor designation pulldown.
“1,000 Chrome books will do tremendous things. No matter what life throws at us in the future, our students will be ready to learn.”
— Pottstown Schools Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez
“We are very hopeful this will allow the school district to continue providing a first-rate education to the children of Pottstown.”
— Hill School Headmaster Zachary Lehman