A long history of funding Piedmont schools
Since our inception, PEF’s purpose has been to grant stipends, salaries, materials, professional development, and equipment for Piedmont’s schools. During the late 1970s, PEF appointed an ad hoc citizens’ committee, which conducted a major fund drive that saved existing school programs that were scheduled to be cut due to the passing of Prop 13. In the 1980s, the foundation received national attention by raising more than $1.5 million to underwrite the PUSD budget and was instrumental in helping to pass Piedmont’s first school tax (1985). During the 1990s, PEF’s focus turned to preserving programs and personnel that would have been cut due to low enrollment and providing significant grants to expand technology programs and staff, including the funding for the district’s first instructional technology coordinator.
Current funding programs
Each year, the PEF Grant Committee ensures that we invest funds raised in a way that reflects community priorities. The committee uses the funding survey results (sent to all parents and guardians in April/May) to draft the year’s distribution plan. The survey results assigned a numeric point value to each line item at each school site. The funds available for each school site are based on the number of students at each site. This year, each site will receive $1,444 per student, multiplied by the number of students projected to be enrolled at that site.
Please note that current grant amounts are estimates; actual grant amounts will be available after June 30.
Except in the areas of professional development and classroom support, the PEF grant supplants but does not supplement district funding. PEF works to invest community funds in a way that reflects community priorities, ensuring the district understands the importance of these areas to Piedmont families. An increase or decrease of PEF funding to a specific line item does not change the budgeted cost of that line item for PUSD. It only changes how much of that program is funded by PEF and how much by district general fund dollars.
Spring Fling and Harvest Festival Funding
Spring Fling and Harvest Festival revenues and expenses are tri-school only and are not included in the general grant calculation. These funds are granted separately and will support the expansion of visual and performing arts programs and maintain elementary counseling at all three elementary schools. Visit our Spring Fling page to read more about this season of events.
