IPSWICH CITIZENS EDUCATION

August 28, 2008

Dear Supporters,

We are writing this letter to thank you for your past contribution to the Ipswich Citizens for Education Fund (ICE)  and to inform you of the future direction of ICE, a fund under the Ipswich 21St Century Education Foundation which has been the umbrella organization for various fundraising entities such as ICE.

ICE was formed in 2003 because of a failed override and dramatic system-wide budget cuts. The ICE mission was to enhance excellence in the Ipswich Public Schools by raising funds to support both academic and co-curricular programs, and purchasing educational resources and materials not provided for in the school budgets. Through our annual appeal, including several foundation and corporate grants, we have raised $135,790 and have succeeded with our mission to sustain academic and co-curricular programs that would have otherwise been lost to budget cuts. These dollars have been used to fund classroom tools such as scientific calculators, chemistry modeling kits, laptop computers, digital microscopes, dissolved oxygen meters, GPS receivers, digital cameras, and numerous classroom textbooks; a reading literacy initiative in the elementary schools; professional development for teachers and staff; and after-school programs such as Student Leadership Council, homework club, and MCAS tutoring.

We would like to extend our wholehearted appreciation for all those who contributed to ICE over the past few years and who supported the recent proposition 2 ½ override this past Spring. The additional $1.49 million annually for the schools will stabilize and restore teacher and staff positions, services, programs, libraries, textbooks, clubs, and activities. This Fall, ICE will not be sending the annual appeal letter. However, ICE will continue to operate under the umbrella of the Ipswich 21st Century Education Foundation and will work closely with the Foundation board and school principals to monitor and assess unmet academic and co-curricular needs, and to raise funds as needed. You will be hearing more about the Foundation in the months ahead as it refines its role in the school community by coordinating and supporting the various fundraising efforts that currently exist in the school system. If you would like more information about the Foundation, please call Ellen Kallman, Foundation President, at 356-4802.

Again, we thank you for your support throughout the years and look forward to celebrating the many successes Ipswich public schools will have in the coming years.

Sincerely,

 

Jennifer Bauman – ICE Co-Chair                          Debbie Lindahl – ICE Co-Chair

 

Susan Dick – ICE Founding Member                    Susan Monahan – ICE Founding Member