Supporting Educational Enrichment in Daphne's Schools
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Keeping Daphne Schools Strong
Everyone knows good schools make great communities. Toward that end, Daphne citizens are stepping up in increasing numbers to support SEEDS’ mission and work.
Such involvement will be needed more than ever next year as Baldwin County citizens deal with some fundamental questions regarding the future of our school system.
With help from new and returning volunteers and donors, the foundation has achieved important progress since the opening of the 2009 school year:
- Participants in the second annual SEEDS Summit got answers from school board members, county commissioners and local legislators on critical budget challenges facing Baldwin County in 2010.
- Working with leaders from six other local education foundations, SEEDS helped establish the Baldwin County Education Coalition – the first-ever county-wide organization of school supporters and activists. Early results from the new partnership are encouraging. Coalition achievements to date include:
- Lobbied the Baldwin County Board of Education successfully to undertake a nationwide superintendent search;
- Conducted a one-day retreat for foundation board members to learn more about issues and needs specific to each community;
- Solicited state-level perspective on school funding crisis from State School Board Vice President Randy McKinney;
- Began consideration of a county-wide public engagement initiative to clarify citizens’ expectations for future education planning.
- Hosted the fifth annual Mamma Mia Cook-off that featured a record 30 cooking teams – all of whom donated their time, talent and resources to raise money for SEEDS’ 2010-11 Classroom Grant Program. Over 80 Mamma Mia sponsors and 700+ guests helped make the event our most successful fall fundraiser yet.