fund-raising foundation is needed to make

Fayette's Partners in Education program more

effective, says Mark Hall of the Chamber of

Commerce.

Hall,

representing the chamber's Partners in Education

Committee, proposed the formation of a Fayette

County Education Foundation to the Board of

Education recently.

"We

can never support our schools enough," said

Hall, who also is former school board chairman.

The

proposed foundation would be a joint venture

between the Board of Education and the chamber,

according to Hall.

Based

on a similar model created in Fulton county, Hall

explained that the foundation would be

established so that individuals, businesses and

organizations could contribute to a tax

deductible fund. A 10- to 15-member board would

be established to oversee the foundation and

would take responsibility for the generation and

expenditure of all funds within its guidelines.

Programs

being considered include mini-grants to schools,

teachers and educational programs for expenses

not covered in the normal operating budget,

recognition programs for outstanding students and

teachers, and special scholarships for students

and teachers, particularly in critical need areas

such as special education, math and science.

Board

members called the foundation proposal "a

good idea" and gave Hall the go ahead to

proceed.

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