TRAVERSE CITY -- Developing an education foundation for Traverse City's public schools is a "promising" idea that could establish a long-term revenue source for the district, administrators and school board members said.
The concept, along with efforts to build equity in school funding and apply for new grant awards, are considered priorities among district leaders in preparing for a roughly $3 million deficit next year.
Superintendent James Feil was set to discuss the issue with school board members Monday, but the meeting was canceled due to lack of quorum. Only three of seven board members -- Marjie Rich, Megan Crandall and Gary Appel -- attended.
At least four are required for a meeting to take place.
The hope is to generate enough revenue to offset more than $2 million in budget cuts made last month, and increase the district's financial position in years to come.
"It's not something you do in a month," Feil said. "We just have to figure out what's right for us."
The district has a number of existing fundraising efforts, including local boosters groups, parent-teacher organizations and grants.
Efforts to shrink the gap between the state's highest- and lowest-funded school districts have netted Traverse City more than $2.3 million by raising its per-student aid base.
But the initial work of local groups like Citizens for Equity, who lobbied other Michigan school districts and legislators to support the cause, appears to have waned as the state battles its own budget woes.
"That makes it a much tougher sell," Crandall said. "If we're out there on our own and we're not getting the support from our own legislators, it's a tough fight."
Former state Rep. Howard Walker, R-Traverse City, advocated for equity issues in Lansing, but he could not seek re-election in November due to term limits.
That is partly why a foundation has so much potential, Feil said.
For one, he said, it allows Traverse City to be proactive in case the state can't afford to give more to the lowest-funded districts, as it had in prior years.
School leaders said they need to decide what type of foundation to create, who will run it and whether the community can support it.
Crandall first discussed a foundation during her 2007 board campaign, and said she would like to organize it to avoid paying for a consultant.
Up-front expenses often are needed for start-up ventures, Appel said, but administrators should look for local skills first.
"Even in the most difficult times, in thinking about the long run you have to invest," he said. "I would really be supportive of investing in the expertise."
