Marin schools network raises $830K for programs
Marin public schools will share $830,074 for programs in the arts, literacy, technology and health through SchoolsRule-Marin, a network of schools foundations.
The distributions were announced Thursday at the organization’s 13th annual awards event in San Rafael. The funding goes to parent-led foundations and groups serving Marin’s school districts.
“I think we’re right around where we were before in fundraising pre-pandemic,” John Carroll, the county superintendent of schools, said at the event. “The energy’s super high. I think SchoolsRule’s doing great work, like it used to.”
Donations toward SchoolsRule, established in 2011, come from Marin businesses, community agencies and individuals. Last year, the distribution was $784,784.
“This year went very, very well, thanks to our corporate sponsors and many individuals,” said Ken Lippi, a SchoolsRule coordinator and deputy superintendent in the Marin County Office of Education.
“Just before COVID, SchoolsRule had given out over $1 million,” Lippi said. “We’re not quite at that mark yet. We’re working our way back to it.”
More than half of the $830,074 will be distributed from the equal-share-per-student fund that was set up at the beginning of SchoolsRule to level the playing field for all pupils. The rest is distributed from a special equity fund set up in 2022 by former schools superintendent Mary Jane Burke to give extra amounts to school districts where the need is greater.
The annual SchoolsRule disbursement is the largest single contribution for the majority of the district foundations, said Melinda MacKaben, operations manager for SchoolsRule. She said the funds represent more than 60% of the operating budget for San Rafael’s schools foundation, and 50% of Novato’s.
“This extraordinary gift from our SchoolsRule donors not only sustains essential programs for arts enrichment and student mental health support but allows us to dream bigger for our students,” said Michelene Moayedi, executive director of the San Rafael foundation.
“Thanks to this generosity, we can now expand our teacher mini-grant program, bringing resources directly into classrooms to enhance learning experiences,” Moayedi said.
Since its inception, SchoolsRule has distributed more than $7.5 million.
The beneficiaries this year include:
Bolinas-Stinson Union School District, $2,698
Kentfield School District, $19,884
Laguna Joint School District, $402
Lagunitas School District, $3,389
Larkspur-Corte Madera School District, $19,655
Mill Valley School District, $36,572
Miller Creek School District, $39,759
Nicasio School District, $1,212
Novato Unified School District, $195,522
Novato Charter School, $4,892
Reed Union School District, $15,985
Ross School District, $4,576
Ross Valley School District, $30,921
Ross Valley Charter, $4,727
San Rafael City Schools, $268,516
Sausalito Marin City School District, $9,211
Shoreline Unified School District, $17,864
Redwood High School, $29,101
Archie Williams High School, $20,195
Tamiscal and San Andreas high schools, $4,072
Tamalpais High School, $26,465
Marin Community School. $3,084
Dedication to Special Education, $71,372