Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation do?
How much money does our district receive from the state?
How will MBEF funds be used in the 2010-2011 school year?
I thought the state Lottery was supposed to provide a significant amount to education?
Why do we need both the MBEF and PTAs?
How does MBEF determine which positions and programs to fund?
Why can’t I designate how my donation is used?
I want to donate to MBEF but can’t give a lump sum – do you have payment options?
What does MBEF do to raise funds?
What can we do to change the overall situation?
Questions and Answers:
What does the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation do?
The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF) is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization that raises money to improve and enhance the education provided in Manhattan Beach public schools. State funding for education in California is inadequate for many basic programs and certainly insufficient to fund any enrichment programs. MBEF helps fill the gap between what the state provides the district and what it costs to provide a well-rounded, quality education for students.
MBEF will grant over $4.4 million to our school district in 2010-2011. This money will pay for 66 educators, including classroom teachers (to maintain small class sizes), guidance counselors, college and career counselors, librarians, science and reading enrichment teachers, computer teachers, music teachers and assistants and others.
How much money does our district receive from the state?
The amount of money our district receives from the state has decreased substantially over the years. For the 2010-2011 school year, we will receive less than $5,226 per child.
To put our current situation in perspective, in 2003-2004, MBUSD received $5,194 per child – which is $6,180 in 2010-2011 dollars. In adjusted dollars we receive $954 less per child today than eight years ago.
Depending on the source, California ranks anywhere from 24th to near last in per pupil funding.
California does not require or fund many of the courses and programs offered in the Manhattan Beach schools. Without donations to MBEF, many programs that contribute to an exceptional education – and help place our school district in the top five in the state – would simply disappear.
How will MBEF funds be used in the 2010-2011 school year?
MBEF will contribute over $4.4 million in 2010-2011 to pay for 66 educators, including classroom teachers (to maintain small class sizes), guidance counselors, college and career counselors, librarians, science and reading enrichment teachers, computer teachers, music teachers and assistants, and others.
Click here to view 2010-1011 MBEF Grants.
I thought the state Lottery was supposed to provide a significant amount to education?
This is an often misunderstood element of school funding. Lottery funds account for approximately $132/pupil in K-12 education. Lottery funds don’t only go to K-12 schools; they support students in all areas of public education including Community Colleges, the University of California, the California State University system, Adult Education, Charter Schools and even the schools at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – Division of Juvenile Justice receive Lottery funds. Our students receive very little from the Lottery.
Why do we need both the MBEF and a PTA?
MBEF and PTAs work closely together to provide a quality K-12 education for all children. In fact, PTA presidents from each school sit on the MBEF board to provide input on MBEF decisions.
MBEF’s focus is on funding the people needed to teach programs at school sites district-wide. MBEF raises funds a year in advance so that its grants can be included in MBUSD’s budget planning process.
Each school’s PTA has its own Board of Directors that raises and spends funds in the same school year to pay for campus-specific enrichment, all technology, school supplies, classroom materials, and this year operational support staff to keep the campus running throughout the school year.
While we can thank MBEF for our librarians, PTA pays for our library books. Similarly, MBEF pays for computer specialists to teach kids computer skills in the lab., PTA buys the lab’s computers and software. Therefore, despite their different roles, both MBEF and PTA work together to fund critical programs our schools wouldn’t otherwise have.
How does MBEF determine which positions and programs to fund?
The MBUSD Board of Trustees and the school administration determine instruction in our schools; that is, what will be taught, who will teach it and how it will be delivered at each school. MBEF provides the funding, above and beyond what the state pays for, to support or enhance that instruction.
MBEF raises money one year in advance so that when the school board makes its budget in the spring, they know which staff and programs public funding will cover and what additional support is needed from MBEF. Specific grants are then proposed by the MBEF Grants committee, made up of members of the MBEF Board of Directors and community, and voted on by the full MBEF board. The Grants committee seeks input from donors. We would like to hear from you. Please provide input by sending an email to questions@mbef.org.
Our goal is to have 100% of the families whose children attend an MBUSD school contribute to MBEF. All children in the district benefit from the educators and programs that MBEF funds and every gift contributes to a better education.
We ask families to consider a gift of $1250 or more per child. As the state budget remains in flux, it is vitally important that we preserve or increase our annual funding level. We realize that this is a significant amount of money, however, MBEF will not ask for another donation during the school year. Above all, we ask that all families contribute to the extent that they can.
Does your company have a matching gifts program? MBEF is eligible to receive matching funds from participating companies. Please check with your employer to see if they offer such a program. Last year MBEF received over $300,000 in matching funds!
If you have a child in MBUSD, you have the very best reason to donate.
Why can’t I designate how my donation is used?
The goal of MBEF and the district is to provide an exceptional and consistent education for all children in the district. What makes up that education is ultimately decided by the school board and the administration who consider the needs of the entire district. To allow “special interest” funding of positions and programs would not serve to build an equitable educational foundation year after year for the entire district.
The MBEF board of directors and Grants Committee work very hard to gather donor input and communicate this information to administrators and the school board so they can understand and consider our donors’ priorities when making decisions about instruction. MBEF works diligently to protect the quality of K-12 education for all students. We welcome your suggestions and input on how funds are allocated. Send your input to questions@mbef.org.
I want to donate to MBEF but can’t give a lump sum – do you have payment options?
MBEF now has several payment options at www.mbef.org/givetoday or you can find donation envelopes at your school office.
- Installments—donations are charged to your credit card automatically on the schedule you select. You can establish an installment plan through our online donation system or using the donation envelope.
- One-time donation provided by check or credit card
- Appreciated Stock – donation of stock certificates.
Don’t forget to submit the paperwork for a matching funds donation from your employer.
What does MBEF do to raise funds?
Annual Appeal Campaign
Our primary fundraising is done through the “Annual Appeal.” We ask for your donation at the beginning of the school year. The Appeal ends in January and we will not ask again during the 2010-2011 school year. We are dedicated to raising the funds necessary to sustain the academic excellence MBUSD students and families have come to expect.
Matching Funds Program
Many companies also contribute to MBEF through a matching funds program. We have received up to $300,000 in the past through matching funds programs. Please check with your employer to find out if they offer such a program.
Community-wide Pledge Week in November (Nov. 1 – Nov. 5)
The objective of this program is to raise awareness among all Manhattan Beach residents and businesses of the need for financial assistance for our school district. Everyone in the community, businesses and residents alike, benefit from residing in an area with one of the top five school districts in California.
Manhattan Wine Auction
MBEF hosts the popular Manhattan Wine Auction each year. This evening of fun, dancing, fine food and wine typically generates over $600,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales and a live and silent auction. According to our bylaws, one third of the net proceeds from the event go to the Endowment Fund.
MBEF Endowment Fund
The Endowment Fund was set up to provide a more stable source of funding to ensure future excellence and innovation in our schools. The MBEF Endowment typically receives over $200,000 annually in donations.
Business Sponsorship Program
New in 2010, MBEF launched a Business Sponsorship Program that reaches out to small and large businesses in the South Bay to encourage them to invest in Manhattan Beach Schools.
It truly takes a village to support an outstanding public school system!
We are currently faced with an unusual state funding situation. What will happen if the state further reduces school funding during the school year? Will MBEF hold another fundraising campaign?
MBEF will run one fundraising campaign, the Annual Appeal, for the 2010-2011 school year. The Annual Appeal provides over 80% of MBEF’s total funds. There is no guarantee that funds raised this coming year will be sufficient to maintain programs throughout the school year so it is important that donors give to the best of their ability during the appeal.
We could face reductions in state funding later in the school year. If this happens, the school board will have to decide how to cope with these cuts. MBEF will not run another fundraising for this school year.
Our district has cut spending by 18% over the last two years. The Annual Appeal is designed to sustain the plan put in place as of March 2010 for the coming school year. Neither MBEF nor the school district can operate in crisis funding mode which is why it is so important for you to donate to MBEF and your child’s education during the Annual Appeal.
We are all very lucky. Our children receive an education through our public school system that is second to none. But this is only possible because MBUSD families give generously to our public education system through MBEF. Your contribution matters.
What can we do to change the overall situation?
Your vote is a very important tool and can influence district funding at many levels, including City Council, State and Federal Officials. These elected officials are responsible for the oversight and funding of the States educational system. Although we often voice our frustrations within our local community, it is important to make your views known to these people as well. Advocate whenever you can and continue to be an educated voter.
Summary of Basic Aid Facts
Q: I’ve read about Beverly Hills and Irvine becoming “basic aid” districts. What does that mean?
On a yearly basis, a district is classified as basic aid or revenue limit. To make the determination, you start with property taxes. Each district is allocated a percentage of its local property taxes for schools. This serves as the base part of the funding equation. If the property tax funding is low, then the state provides more money to reach a revenue limit, or the amount of money the state is willing to spend on education in that school district. (The revenue limit, and the percent of property taxes the district keeps, are different for each school district and were set in the 70s.)
If the money from the local property taxes for a district becomes greater than the revenue limit, that district becomes “basic aid” and can keep the funding above and beyond its revenue limit. By contrast, the only way a revenue limit district can increase its funding is to increase enrollment or find other sources of local revenue such as from an education foundation. A basic aid district benefits from declining student enrollment. Beverly Hills school district was in the news because of the controversy over denying enrollment to students who live outside the Beverly Hills school district– the very students who had helped increase revenue before the district became basic aid.
Q: Wouldn’t it help Manhattan Beach schools if we could keep our property taxes?
Currently, MBUSD receives almost twice as much funding from the state as a revenue limit district than we would as a basic aid district like Beverly Hills or Irvine. This is due to the relatively low percent of local property taxes (20 percent) that Manhattan Beach schools are allowed to keep for schools, and because our property tax basis is relatively low despite high home prices. Although the funding determination is done yearly, this percentage is not adjustable. Many homeowners in Manhattan Beach live in homes with a tax basis of less than $500,000; until our property tax valuation grows significantly, we receive more funding as a revenue limit district.
Q: How was the percent of property tax allotted to education set for Manhattan Beach?
The formula to allocate property tax dollars for education is based on tax rates and education spending levels that were in place in 1972. Unfortunately, our city was spending a relatively small share of property taxes on our Manhattan Beach schools in the early 70s. Thus, our district is entitled to less property tax revenue than other districts even if the current total assessed value of our respective communities is the same. A rising local property tax base does nothing to help a school district until it becomes basic aid. The only beneficiary is the state, whose state aid contribution correspondingly decreases as the local property taxbase assumes a greater percentage of the district’s revenue limit.
Sources: The Basics of Basic Aid by Darren Sepanek (which will appear in the MB Sun – Education Section – Jan. 28, 2010), and the Irvine Unified School District.