This year the Giving Campaign is asking Piedmont parents for a donation of $1,000 per student. Piedmont spends about $11,500 per student each year. However only $6,700 per student is covered by the state and federal government funds. Because Piedmont is not eligible for special government programs our district receives less money per student than the average California school.

The Giving Campaign’s goal is to cover the $4,800 gap. According to the campaign’s website, www.piedmontgivingcampaign.com, by giving $1,000 per student it will “help offset the funding gap and keep Piedmont schools dynamic, competitive and strong.”

Last year local fundraising raised 1.6 million dollars. Currently 1.2 million dollars have been raised this school year, a forty-four percent participation rate among parents. 100 percent of all money raised will go back to the schools.

For the high school these funds help pay for AP Classes, PHS College and Career Center, the Wellness Center, technology and tech support, the after-school study program, health educators, library resource support, the student center completion professional development, assemblies and speakers.

This year in particular, the campaign urges people to give.

“All of these items support the experience and education the students receive at Piedmont High School.  We ask that parents continue supporting these programs, and our schools, by making a donation to the Giving Campaign today,” the Giving Campaign co-chair Terry Burge said.

Burge said that every September, the Giving Campaign committee sends out a mailer to parents with children in the Piedmont schools.  The mailer consists of an informative brochure and a donor form.

“We also do a lot of marketing about the campaign and remind parents to donate in the Piedmont Post, school newsletters, and the Piedmont Portal,” Burge said.

Although Prop 30 passed, Piedmont schools will not receive any additional funding from the State. This proposition only spared public schools from further cuts in education.

“Our goal is 100% parent participation with giving at any dollar amount, and this year we are trying to match what we raised last year, 1.6 million dollars for Piedmont Schools,” Burge said.

The website said, “Donations of any amount are welcome. We appreciate your generosity during these challenging economic times and any amount you can give will make a difference.”

Sophomore Robbie Diaz said that he would like the money to be used for updating the facilities that Piedmont High already has.

“We are trying so much to expand but we should be focusing on what we already have,” Diaz said.

Junior Erica Monical agreed that the giving campaign should use the money for fixing up Piedmont High’s facilities.

“I would especially like seeing the bathrooms improved because some of them don’t lock and have graffiti all over the stalls,” Monical said.