Foundation for Clovis Schools

The Foundation kicked off the New Year with three new directors joining the Board of Directors.

Wes Qualls, Director of Irrigation and Industrial Surfaces, Franklin Electric

Wes is a graduate of Clovis High School and has three children currently attending Clovis Unified schools. He has served on the Cedarwood Elementary Soccer Board and the Clovis High School Cougar Foundation Board. When asked why he wanted to serve as a Director for the Foundation for Clovis Schools, Wes said, “As a product of Clovis Unified, I want to help our schools continue to provide the excellent education I received and that my children are receiving. There is not another school district anywhere that can match Clovis Unified in what it does to provide children with opportunities to be successful. My goal is to increase the community’s understanding of the low amount of funding the District receives to educate our children. It’s really important that we correct the misperception that Clovis Unified is a wealthy school district. Clovis Unified is a special place. As a new director, I’m constantly amazed at the dedication of school district employees and volunteers and the countless hours they commit to our children. Being part of this team is truly rewarding.”

Ed Dunkel, Jr., President/CEO of Precision Civil Engineering, Inc.

Ed spent his entire K-12 school career in Clovis Unified schools. He attended Jefferson Elementary, Clark Intermediate and graduated from Clovis High School. In addition to serving as a Foundation for Clovis Schools Director, Ed serves on the Saint Agnes Foundation Board, Building Industry Association Board, Bulldog Foundation Board and the Fresno State Athletic Council. When asked why he wanted to join the Foundation for Clovis Schools Board, Ed explained, “The one Foundation program that really touched me initially was Students of Promise. I can fully relate to these students. I know how important a program like this can be for a child that might be financially disadvantaged or lacking the support of a traditional family unit. Also, I know how much the school district needs financial help from the community. My hope is that the Foundation can raise enough funds to significantly impact the needs in our schools. I’m hoping we can touch every student and every teacher.”

Betsy Sandoval, President, Clovis Unified School District Governing Board

Betsy was elected as President of the Clovis Unified Governing Board at their December 2009 meeting. As President of the Governing Board, Betsy will serve as an active, voting Foundation Director for the next year. Having the Governing Board President serve on the Foundation Board of Directors ensures that Directors are aware of current District needs and goals, that the Foundation adopts educational programs identified as a priority by the school district and that Directors establish appropriate fundraising goals to support those programs. Betsy has served on the Foundation Board of Directors numerous times during her tenure on the Governing Board and has been a tremendous help to the Foundation in building community support for our schools. When asked how it feels to be back on the Foundation Board, Betsy commented, “It is my pleasure to once again serve as the CUSD Board’s representative to the Foundation Board. This board is a dedicated group of volunteers that puts in countless hours of their time to raise money to help our students and schools.”

Business and community leaders will come together on Tuesday, September 22, to hear Dr. David Cash, Clovis Unified’s new Superintendent, give the annual “State of the District” address. Dr. Cash will share how state funding is impacting district programs and operations as well as report on the latest student achievement results.

The Superintendent’s Back-to-School Breakfast is hosted by the Foundation for Clovis Schools with proceeds going to educational programs in Clovis Unified schools.

The event will be held at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Clovis. Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. followed by Dr. Cash’s presentation. For reservations, call Melinda Lail at 327-9093.

Download Breakfast Invitation

This year the Granville “Home of Hope” is located in the Copper River Ranch Community. The home is a single story 2,016 square foot home with three bedrooms, a dining room/library and two bathrooms. The home is located within the award winning Clovis Unified School District and near the Copper River Country Club and Golf Course. Granville Homes and its subcontractors have donated the materials, supplies and labor to construct this house.

Seven local community organizations are beneficiaries of the Home of Hope fundraiser including the Foundation for Clovis Schools. Proceeds received by the Foundation will support Project SMART, a mentoring program for at-risk students in grades 4-8, at Community Day School. Other beneficiaries include: Community Food Bank, Poverello House, Hinds Hospice (Angel Babies), Assistance League and the Foundations for Central and Sanger Schools.

Darius Assemi of Granville Homes said, “This home is a symbol of what each of these organizations do each and every day by giving hope to those in need in our community. Please join all of us at Granville Homes by purchasing your ticket today.”

Those wishing to participate in the raffle can purchase tickets for $100 each and will be eligible to win the grand prize of a brand new Granville Home. Ticket buyers will also be eligible to win numerous other prizes, including LASIK surgery (two-eyes) by EYE-Q Vision Care, a .43 carat diamond from Orloff Jewelers, two Trek Bicycles from Rubber Soul Bicycles, $500 gas cards and more.

To purchase tickets, call the Foundation for Clovis Schools at 327-9090 or visit the “Home of Hope” website at www.gvhomeofhope.com.

On June 16, Foundation Directors and District educators met to review 97 grant applications from teachers and staff across the District.  By the end of the afternoon, 23 innovative projects totaling $103,616 were selected to be funded for the 2009-2010 school year.

Each year, the Foundation raises dollars for the “Classroom and School Grant Program” which supports innovative and creative programs that help students improve academically and personally.  According to Mike Flynn, Foundation Chairperson, “the Foundation received requests for projects totaling $562,222.  This is an increase of 17% or an additional $100,000 over last year.  I believe this reflects the tight budget issues that Clovis Unified schools, and all schools, are facing in these tough economic times.  When all of us on the review teams read the projects that teachers want to implement in their classrooms and at their schools, it made each of us more determined to take their stories to the community and ask for more support.”

Grants funded include a unique handwriting program for kindergarten (Fancher Creek Elementary), a plant-renting enterprise to teach students business and marketing skills (Clovis East High School), and a campus TV/radio broadcasting system to teach students video and audio technology (Alta Sierra Intermediate).

(See below for complete list of projects funded.)

2009-2010 Classroom Grants Funded

Twelve Clovis Unified School District students were honored March 31 at a gala banquet marking the eighth annual “Students of Promise” awards. The event was held at TorNino’s and attracted more than 250 guests.

The “Students of Promise,” all juniors at CUSD high schools, were selected for maintaining good standing in school despite formidable personal obstacles or unusual challenges.

Each year, the Foundation for Clovis Schools sponsors the awards, with each student becoming eligible for a $1,500 scholarship upon graduation. “When Foundation Directors reviewed the nominations that were submitted on [these students’] behalf, we were humbled and in awe of their character and strength. They truly are remarkable,” said Foundation for Clovis Schools Chairperson Mike Flynn.

The Foundation raises funds for the scholarship program through individual and business donations. Educational Employees Credit Union was the major sponsor of this year’s event.

Students and guests were surprised with the announcement that Foundation Director J.P. Sethi and his wife Renu were giving each of the 12 students an additional $1,500.00 for a second year scholarship. Mr. Sethi commented, “Three years ago, I was a guest of Foundation Director Vasanta Shantharam at the Students of Promise dinner. My children went to Bullard High School so I did not have a connection to Clovis Schools. On the way home, my wife turned to me and said, ‘we need to support this program.’ We’ve been huge supporters of this program ever since and it led me to becoming a Foundation Director.”

This program serves as motivation for these students to finish high school and advance to higher education. Previous recipients have gone on to UC Berkeley, Cal Poly, Fresno State, the Clovis Center, Clovis Adult Education, vocational schools, beauty school and other specialty educational institutions.

This year’s “Students of Promise” include:  Kirstie Breshears, Gateway High School; Seaira Delgado, Gateway High School; Lewis Dutra, Clovis West High School; Hazael Gonzalez, Clovis High School; Gilberto Lerma, Buchanan High School/CART; Vanetta Mata, Clovis West High School; Sarah Mullin, Gateway High School; Sahana Ashok Nayak, Buchanan High School; Hailey Ricord, Buchanan High School; David Samuels, Clovis High School; Steven Smith, Clovis West High School; Sammantha Wood, Clovis High School