School receives $1 million grant from parent of former student
Bosque School officials say a recent $1 million donation from the parent of a former student will be transformative for the school, which serves students in sixth through 12th grades.
Jenny Plane, a member of the school’s board of trustees and the parent of the former student, provided the unrestricted donation, which originated from the estate of her parents, Bob and Mary Plane.
Jessie Barrie, the head of the school, said in a letter shared with Bosque School parents that the school will create a task force which will strategize how best to use the donation.
“The timing of Jenny’s gift is incredibly powerful as we prepare to celebrate the school’s thirtieth anniversary over the course of the 24/25 academic year,” Barrie wrote.
Plane said in a letter Bosque School distributed that her son, Warren Hartman, who graduated in 2014, benefited greatly from the hands-on learning outdoors that the school offers. She also said the family was impressed with the teachers.
Plane said her parents created a group for grandparents of children at the school.
“My parents saw that the school’s location in the bosque, the field science program, and, above all, the engaged and supportive Bosque School community were unique and irreplaceable,” Plane wrote. “They believed, as I do, that Bosque School serves an essential role in Albuquerque: an independent school on the west side, offering academic rigor and innovative education in a warm and cohesive community.”
Barrie said it was the first $1 million gift the school has received since Michael and Sheril Budagher donated that amount 19 years ago.
“While this is a transformative gift, it does not mean that smaller gifts are still not essential to the school,” Barrie wrote. “Participation at all levels is significant to our community and allows us to continue providing our students with the very best education possible.”