REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

2003-2004

Ithaca Public Education Initiative ommunity

IPEI is a community-based organization that supports the teachers and students of the Ithaca City School District. IPEI works to connect our schools with the human and financial resources of our community and to enhance the ting school and c educational experience and success of every student. onnec c Connecting School and Community

Strong schools are a valuable asset of our community, our families, and our society. When our community connects with our schools, all participants in the learn- ing process benefit. Teachers and administrators are working against stiff odds, with reduced budgets, increased governmental mandates, and compounding socio-economic pressures on students and their families. They need our additional support.

Community involvement can and does help. IPEI is the vehicle through which the community can support the mission of our public schools. IPEI has committed itself to making connections between the community and our schools through grants, partnerships and collaborations. As IPEI celebrates eight years of service to the community, over 6,000 students are counting on us! Here is what IPEI is doing to help and how you can participate!

2 Grants Program

IPEI has developed a variety of programs that enhance the learning experience by encouraging community collaboration with and participation in our schools.

Teacher Grants The IPEI Teacher Grants program recog- nizes teachers and encourages them to partner with community organizations to provide quality classroom enrichment. In 2003, sixteen competitive grants totaling $10,666 were awarded. The following examples are just three of the innovative projects the district’s teachers developed this past year.

Diggin’ Dinosaurs Through the leadership of teacher Lisa Cantone, first grade students in Northeast Elementary learned how scientists use the evidence they find to recreate what the dinosaurs looked like and what the environment was like when the dinosaurs were alive. Partnering with the at PRI and , a museum educator and a Cornell biologist came to the school and showed examples of discoveries and how they used them to learn about life millions of years ago.

“We invited our parents to our own Dinosaur Museum to see all we had learned.” —STUDENT Beyond Myself and Into India Working with 12 commu- nity groups (23 individuals), Fall Creek Elementary second grade teachers Theresa Harned and Mihal Elman brought the culture, art, food, and music of India alive for their students throughout the year. Community part- ners included local Indian families, musicians, dancers, businesses, a puppeteer, and a middle school teacher. The project culminated at the end of the year with the students presenting an original play, The Strength Inside Us All, which focused on children in America and India.

“We were so utterly floored by your fabulous presentation.” —PARENT A Sense of Place Ithaca High School art classes were exposed to the artistry and process of printmaking with the help of Pam Drix from the Ink Shop. Three workshops were held at the high school and one at the studio. Students’ work was subsequently exhibited for a month at the Community School of Music and Art.

“The students’ experience working… under the guidance of master print- makers was extraordinary.” —TEACHER

3 Raymond C. Loehr Teacher and Student Awards The Loehr family established two endowments to honor their father, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Engineering Raymond C. Loehr. The Raymond C. Loehr Scholarship for Environmental Science was awarded this year to Ithaca High School sophomore Henri Katherine Pontes for her promise in the study of environmental science. IPEI presented high school science department chair, Nancy Ridenour, the Raymond C. Loehr Award for Excellence in Science Teaching for her outstanding and longstanding leadership and creative teaching.

Class of 2004 Gift Encouraged by IPEI, the Ithaca High School Class of 2004 undertook the first ever Senior Class Endowed Gift Campaign. The class has created an IPEI endowment fund to recognize annually an out- standing new teacher. The class honored English teacher Stephanie Vinch with this year’s award and hopes to make adding to their class gift an annual tradition.

Red and Gold Opportunities Grants Thanks to the generous response to our community campaign in 2003, IPEI will launch a new grant program this year. These grants will encourage students, teachers and community members to request funding for one-time grants of $500 or less, for academic or non-academic needs. IPEI has found that even grants in relatively small amounts can make a huge difference in strengthening our schools.

Additional Connections IPEI sought and secured gener- ous support from the Raymond and Margaret VanHoutte Education Fund to allow two special projects. Ithaca High School students and teachers investigated the new collections at the Museum of the Earth at PRI, and special education students held a daylong music workshop with the a cappella group Sons of Pitches.

4 Collaborations with the Community IPEI encourages the development of closer relationships between the schools and the many community groups that support our schools. By working together, we can accomplish so much more.

IPEI Roundtable A great variety of organizations in our community support our schools. Until IPEI leaders recog- nized the need for regular conversations among these groups, little collaboration occurred. IPEI’s Roundtable brings together representatives of these groups to compare missions, share accomplishments, and establish partnerships and cooperative ties. The Roundtable meets monthly and is open to representatives of any organiza- tion in the community working with the schools. Currently it includes:

Alumni and Friends of Ithaca High School Cornell University Family Reading Partnership Fine Arts Booster Group Ithaca Public Education Initiative Ithaca Youth Bureau It Just Takes All of Us PTA Council Sports Boosters Group The Village at Ithaca Tompkins Cortland Community College TST-BOCES Why Wait

Representatives from the Board of Education and the Ithaca City School District administration also partici- pate in the IPEI Roundtable.

Fine Arts Booster Group This group supports the fine and performing arts in the schools expanding the oppor- tunities for students to play musical instruments, per- form in plays, create works of visual art, and participate in a wide variety of other arts experiences. To date they have raised more than $20,000 and funded 30 teacher mini-grants in support of the arts.

Robotics Club IPEI assists a group of Ithaca High School students—along with a teacher, a Cornell engineering professor, and a parent—so their team can compete in national contests to design, build, and maneuver robots. They won the Canadian Regional Championship in 2003.

Why Wait IPEI supported this spontaneous one-time community effort that grew out of citizen impatience with the pace of state budget negotiations in Albany. The group joined with IPEI and raised $8,463 that was presented to Superintendent of Schools Judith Pastel for critical program support.

5 Wanda Stambaugh Memorial Upon the death of long time high school guidance counselor Wanda Stambaugh, IPEI received many memorial gifts in her name. The resulting fund provides help for high school students in need. Wanda was known for lending a helping hand with an open heart to any in need during her 49 years at IHS.

Community Engagement Program IPEI recognizes the importance of creating a learning environment in which every child can succeed. Our community is becoming more aware of and involved with the opportunities and challenges faced by our teachers and students. Active involvement by people in every sector of our community can dramatically enrich the efforts of our teachers to bring the best that Ithaca has to offer to their classrooms and after-school programs. IPEI’s Community Engagement Program has hosted two public meetings to identify opportunities and needs. IPEI is actively encouraging volunteer teams to work to meet those needs.

Public Education: Let’s Participate! To celebrate the importance and the accomplishments of public educa- tion in general and the Ithaca district in particular, IPEI organized a community event where 300 residents gath- ered for A Conversation about Public Education with Cornell President Jeffrey Lehman. The evening inspired many to support more actively Ithaca’s schools and to strengthen the connections between students and this community.

“Connecting Schools and Community” Workshop In partnership with the Community Foundation of Tompkins County and the Triad Foundation, IPEI con- vened a three-hour workshop during which more than 150 community members came together to identify criti- cal district education issues and to brainstorm ideas on how to address them. Fourteen different task teams of teachers, staff, business and community leaders have been formed to work on developing the ideas that grew

6 out of the workshop. Through these teams and a steer- ing committee to guide them, IPEI’s Community Engage- ment Program will be focused initially on a number of initiatives around the following themes.

1. Linking Schools with Community Partners The Ithaca Discovery Trail Partnership organizations provide an exceptional educational opportunity for the district’s students. IPEI is actively supporting efforts to design a program and secure the necessary funding for every student in the district to experience each of the eight partnership organizations at least once during grades Pre K–8. The Discovery Trail partners are: , Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell Plantations, Museum of the Earth at PRI, , The History Center in Tompkins County, and the Tompkins County Public Library. In addition, building on a model developed by Ithaca College with South Hill Elementary School, and Dewitt Middle School have partnered to provide unique educational experiences for 8th graders. These include age-appropriate health learning, opportu- nities to mentor with staff, volunteer time with patients, and the chance to receive hands on education in different health care settings.

2. Encouraging Family Connections The Ithaca City School District, stretching as it does from Enfield through the City up to Cayuga Heights and the Northeast and out to Caroline and Danby, has an extremely diverse population. IPEI seeks to create a greater sense of community by bringing families and students together through school related activities such as field trips, mentoring programs, PTA collaborations, and arts events. Especially important are the transition years when elementary students enter middle school and middle school students enter high school.

3. Promoting Student Academic Success IPEI seeks to support solutions that promote academic success for all students. We need to increase support for teachers and schools challenged to provide more home- work clubs, tutoring and mentoring programs, and after- school opportunities.

4. Expanding Access to After-School Programs/ Transportation An IPEI Community Engagement team is actively working with the various transportation agencies in the community to improve after-school transportation. The Ithaca community has a broad array of after school program options for its youth and these programs are an important component of the day for many children. They are often a source of great inspira- tion in students’ lives. The dilemma is that many students are unable to participate in after-school activities because transportation home at the end of the day is limited or non-existent.

7 “IPEI makes links between community resources and the school district so students have access to what’s available locally.” —ADMINISTRATOR

“I’m really, really happy that IPEI exists because there are so many talented people…who have ideas for helping students but would otherwise have no resources to make them happen.” —TEACHER GRANT RECIPIENT

8 Thank You!

IPEI is proud of what it has accomplished to date and thanks the many hundreds of volunteers and dozens of organizations that are making it all possible.

Capacity Building The growth of IPEI into an organiza- tion that is known and supported by the community is due in part to a very generous grant from the Triad Foundation. This grant sponsored IPEI’s Community Engagement Program and helped IPEI expand its efforts to promote the importance of public education to the community.

Connecting School and Community Campaign For the first time, IPEI asked the broader Ithaca community for financial support to strengthen and increase the reach of IPEI programs. You responded enthusiastically, helping IPEI to grow and to increase support for Ithaca’s teachers and students.

IPEI Adult Spelling Bee The annual Adult Spelling Bee is a broad-based community event that benefits directly the IPEI Teacher Grants program. Seventy-five brave souls from local businesses and community groups gathered in teams of three to test their spelling skills before an appreciative crowd in IHS’s Bliss Gymnasium. Funds raised through team sponsorships support IPEI’s Teacher Grants Program.

9 Financial Report 2003–2004 JULY 1, 2003–JUNE 30, 2004

SOURCES OF FUNDS Gifts from individuals $52,995 Gifts from corporations 9,115 Grants from foundations 21,820 Collaborations/partnerships 10,987 $94,917

CORPORATIONS 10%

INDIVIDUALS FOUNDATIONS 56% 23%

COLLABORATIONS/ PARTNERSHIPS 11%

USES OF FUNDS Grants awarded $21,164 Grant funds committed 30,000 Community engagement 8,208 Collaborations/partnerships 6,261 Public relations/development 11,886 Administration 6,439 Not yet committed 10,959 $94,917

GRANT FUNDS COMMITTED GRANTS 32% AWARDED 22% COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 9% NOT YET COMMITTED 11% COLLABORATIONS/ PARTNERSHIPS 7%

ADMINISTRATION PUBLIC RELATIONS/ 7% DEVELOPMENT 12%

10 List of Donors

We are extremely grateful for the generous support of the following individuals and organizations from January 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004. Your generosity and belief in the importance of public education enhances the well being of our young people, teachers, schools, and ultimately our entire community. Donors listed here may have contributed to IPEI directly or to the Fine Arts Boosters, IHS Class of 2004 Fund, Why Wait, or other programs of IPEI. Some gifts were made in memory or in honor of individuals. As this is our first report to the community, we welcome information, additions, corrections, or listing preferences.

If you would like to join these more than 500 individuals, businesses, and organizations that support our schools, you are invited to send your tax deductible gift to IPEI, P.O. Box 4268, Ithaca, NY 14852-4268. If you have ques- tions or would like more information about IPEI, you can call us at 256-4734 (IPEI) or visit our web site at www.ipei.org.

Anonymous (8) Carey-McKinney Group Robert H. Abrams Linda Case Barry and Margaret Adams Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca Carolyn and Tim Ainslie David Cedarbaum and Arnold Printing Corporation Barbara Mitchell Theresa Arsenault Ciaschi Dietershagen Little and Audrey Edelman Associates Mickelson Eileen Bach Marin Clarksburg Lori Backus Kevin Clermont and Emily Sherwin Frank and Blythe Baldwin Charlotte and Ronnie Coffman Jackie and Kevin Bangs Mr. and Mrs. Howard Cogan Laura Barnhill and Bill Troy Tom and Loren Colbert Charles Bartosch Timothy and Mary Ann Colbert Stuart Basefsky and Claire Germain Betsy and Robert Colbert, Jr. Barbara Bauer and Marc Sadovnic Roy Colle Randi Beckmann Collegetown Bagels Barbara Bergman Columbia Management Group Arthur Berkey Claire Conta Carole and James Bisogni, Jr. Kris Corda Tamar Bloomfield Cornell University Community Susan Blumenthal Relations Joanna Bock Cornell University Library Sarah Bokaer Maria Costanzo Borg Warner Employee Fund Charles and Debbie Cramton Kathleen Boyd and Daniel Paolangeli Michael Cuddy Matt and Nancy Braun Mr. and Mrs. R. Davis Cutting Richard and Nancy Breen Mr. and Mrs. Willard Daetsch Peter and Beth Brennan Catherine Davidson Janice Bretscher Peter Davies Chuck and Phyllis Brodhead Roy and Fran Dexheimer Joan and David Brumberg Tony Del Plato Joe and Nan Bylebyl Judy and Jerry Dietz Jim and Terry Byrnes Clover M. Drinkwater CBORD Group, Inc. Richard Driscoll Cayuga Heights School PTA Mike and Joan Duesing CSP Management Charles Dunaway Leslie Carrere David and Peggy Dunlop

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Jane Dunnick Herson Funeral Home Eagle Broadcasting Carman and Sandy Hill Shimon and Ester Edelman Bob and Betsy Hillman Maralyn Edid and Lawrence Blume John and Robin Moss Hinchcliff Marsha Eger Margaret Hobbie and Roger Haydon Randy and Ron Ehrenberg Shirley O. Hockett Lisa and Ted Eisenberg Beth Howard Abby Eller John Hubbard Lawrence Endo and Caron Bove Sami Husseini and Catherine Husa Jennifer Engel and Larry Young Integrated Acquisitions and Donna Eschenbrenner Development Madeline and Matt Estill Ithaca Cayuga Rotary Club Craig Evans Ithaca College Lauren Faessler Ithaca High School Booster Club Rick and Nicky Falck Dan and Beth Farr Ithaca Rotary Club Linda Farthing and Michael Kohl Ithaca Sunrise Rotary Club Jackie and Frank Fazio Ithaca Stoveworks David Feldshuh and Suzanne Smith Jablonski Martha Frommelt Karen and Mike Jackson David Fernandez and Claudette James Elizabeth Lawson Bill and Marlene Jewell Renate Ferro and Timothy Murray Patricia Johnson Frank and Maura Fetsko Jim Johnston and Linda Mack David and Trish Flaccus Liane Jones Elena and Steve Flash Ralph and Jane Jones Fleet Investment Advisory Services Marc and Phyllis Kaplan Charlotte Fogel Fredric and Marsha Kardon Mark and Wendy Fonder Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo and Steve and Beth Fontana N'Dri Assie-Lumumba Masha and Ernie Fontes Michael Katz Carl and Zsofia Franck Holly Kazarinoff Robert H. Frank and Ellen McCollister Brian Keeling Shane and Shelly French Terence Kelleher Carole Fry Lisa Kledzik Paul Froncek Michael and Carrie Koplinka-Loehr Jeff Furman and Sara Hess Vally Kovary Steve and Kathy Garner Dexter and Fran Kozen Garrity Commnications, Inc. Kathy Krafft Greg Garvan Barbara L. Krause Rhonda and Jim Gilmore David Kuckuk and Sheila Danko Karen Gilovich Beth LaLonde Gimme! Coffee Charles and Lily Lee Stephen Goggin and Kate Potteiger David Lee and Marjory Rinaldo-Lee Carl and Jean Gortzig Jill Leichter Katherine Gottschalk and John L. Paul Deborah Levin Brad and Mary Grainger Gil and Ilma Levine Eileen and Robert Gravani Diana Levy and Bruce Fabens Sally and. David Grubb Bruce and Claudia Lewenstein David and Teresa Halpert Philip and Catherine Lewis Sue and Scott Hamilton James Liebherr and Ann Hajek David and Tove Hammer Carolyn Lindquist Harris Beach LLP Jack and Amy Little Lisa Harris and Jeff Spence Peter and Enid Littman Susan Harville Mark F. Loehr Rebecca Harris-Warrick Cassandra Loomis James D. Hazzard Janet W. Lowe Betta Hedlund Luna Media Peter and Libby Hedrick Leah MacLeod Bill and Mary Heffner William Mahler Brian Heltsey Antoinette Marks Jack and Karen Henion Peter and Beth Marks David Henderson Randall A. Hatcher and Leah Hershey Marjory Beth Martin

12 Katy and Arthur Pearce Steve and Beth Peterson Frank and Susan Piliero Terry Plater Christine and Leonard Pogorzala, Jr. David and Jane Powers Nancy Pringle and Noreen Ruff Philip and Rochelle Proujansky Jeremy and Rhoda Rabkin Esther Racoosin and Eric Alani Sue and Don Rakow Richard and Susan Riley Roger and Arlene Richardson Steve and Martha Robertson Marcie and Lucas Robinson Dolly Robinson Frank and Margaret Robinson Todd and Anne Marie Mattison Faust and Charlene Rossi Judith Maxwell Rotary Club of Ithaca Richard and Eileen Maxwell John and Jeanne Rowley Ann and Alan McAdams Mary Royer and Nelson Burdick Murray McBride Maureen and David Russell Donna Dempster-McClain Bill and Kathy Russell and John O. McClain Nerissa Russell Laura and Howard McCullough Chris Sanchirico Carolyn McDaniel and James Scarpulla Michael Kotlikoff Suzan Schatz and Anthony Nekut Tibby and Fred McLafferty School of Industrial and Labor Dale and Leslie McLean Relations at Cornell Phil and Mary Lu McPheron Ynte Schukken and Hetty Krol Jane R. Mead Stewart and Norma Schwab Nancy G. Medsker Fred Schwartz Shawn and Stephen Meyer Joseph Schwartz James and Patricia Meyers Melissa Seigel and Quin Newton Jon Miller John and Shelley Semmler Lynn Miller Mala and Shankar Sen Chrissie Schelhas-Miller and John Siliciano and Rosanne Mayer R. James Miller Andrea Simitch and Val Warke Kimball and Kay Milling Margaret B. Shepard Mr. and Mrs. Robert Minemier Mr. and Mrs. Randall Shew Alexander and JoAnne Miner David Shmoys and Eva Tardos Barbara Mink and Jack Goldman Mr. and Mrs. Michael Shuler Lucy and Hrair Missirian Alison Shull Debbie and Robert Mitchell Charlotte and Arthur Shull Deborah S. Montgomery Kirk Shreve Diane Morton and Rosalind and Gary Simson Kenneth Kemphues Roger and Cyndi Slothower Timothy and Elizabeth Mount Buzz Spector and Njara Stout Donna and Bill Munger Sara M. Speiser Pat and Karlis Musa Marli Stahlerl Louise Mygatt and Dana Wilson Cushing and Jean Strout Ann and James Niefer Susan Suarez and Wayne Gottlieb North East Appraisals and Management Co. Jean Sutherland Northwestern Mutual Insurance Zoltan Szabo Haya Novak Milton and Barbara Lou Taam Patti and John Nozell Charles Tallman John Oakley Barbara Thuesen Catheryn Obern and Leo Tohill and Irene Komor Richard Robinson Lawrence Tomak Deborah O'Connor and Peter Lepage Tompkins Trust Company Maureen O'Hara and David Easley Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund Kathy Okun and Jeffrey Lehman Shawkat and Parvine Toorawa David Pacun and Tokiko Nobusawa Triad Foundation Christopher and Judith Pastel Charlie and Nancy Trautmann

13 True Insurance Thaisa Way and Mark Servetnick True Walsh and Miller Cathy and Gordon Webb Nan and Jerry True Dorothy Weeman Jay and Sandy True Heather B. Weiss Jeffrey True and Mark Wenham Susan Schattschneider Mary White Sally True and Tony Parise Chris Wilbur Scott and Ann Tucker Wood Insurance/P.W. Wood and Son Wendy Udall Kathleen Woodcock Raymond and Margaret Van Houtte Kenneth Wright Fund Eileen Yagoda and Ross Brann Antoinetta Vogels Barbara Yale Meera and Sanjeev Vohra Amy and Steve Yale-Loehr Pete and Jodi Wadach Charlotte Young Charles Walcott Stacia Zabusky Carol Warshawsky Kip and Nancy Zeiter Sarita Warshawsky Stephen and Chris Zinder Janet Waterman Joel and Cathy Zumoff

Ithaca Public Education Initiative Board of Directors 2004–2005

Terry Byrnes, President Jennifer Engel, Vice President Fran Kozen, Treasurer Katy Pearce, Secretary Stuart Basefsky, Nominating Committee Chair Chuck Brodhead, Public Relations Committee Chair Mary Grainger, Development Committee Chair John Moss Hinchcliff, Governance Committee Chair Sandy True, Allocations Committee Chair Robert Julian Jack Little Paul Marino Wilma Martin Patti Nozell Nancy Pringle David Shoemaker Melissa Seigel Gary Stewart Pat Tempesta Gerry Thomas

BOARD LIAISONS: Chuck Bartosch, ICSD Board of Education Craig Evans, Fine Arts Booster Group

CONSULTANT: Vally Kovary, International Planning Associates

IPEI is a community-based, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that develops supportive community and private sector relationships with the Ithaca City School District. IPEI does not discriminate regardless of race, gender, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status, sexual orien- tation, or marital status. Furthermore, IPEI recognizes the importance of, and strives to ensure that, all students have equal educational opportuni- ties. IPEI supports the non-discrimination policies of the ICSD.

Text by The Communications Support Group, Inc. Design by Jane MacDonald, Sunset Design Photos courtesy the Johnson Art Museum, Lisa Cantone, Kathleen Downes, Mihal Elman, and Theresa Harned IP

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“These projects would have been impossible without the support from IPEI. From my vantage point as a staff developer, I can see the lasting effects of these innovative projects on the teachers as they continue to implement what they gained from the original experience on future classes. It is very exciting.”

—ICSD EDUCATOR IPEI IPEI, PO Box 4268, Ithaca, NY 14852

PHONE: 607-256-IPEI (4734)

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEB: www.ipei.org