AVID at Goddard Continues with Foundation Support

Two weeks ago, Therese Lowrie’s AVID class for eighth graders took a field trip to UCLA.  On a Thursday, the students are going over their homework assignments after school with Katlyn Brumfied, one of five “college tutors.”      

“Everything we work on (in AVID) is going to build on (a) college-going culture…,” said Brumfield, 22, who receives questions about college class sizes and lifestyle on top of those about math, English and science. “When they get to college they already know these questions that they asked themselves.”

Going into last year, Brumfield’s position as a tutor was on the chopping block because of state budget cuts.  So was the AVID program (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a course that helps those “middle” students with untapped potential. Then the Foundation for Glendora Unified Schools stepped in.

In a span of six years, FGUS has resuscitated classes and programs and spared Glendora staff from layoff, donating more than $435,000 in 2009-2010. The money has been used to hire back a security resource officer, bring technology and software to Glendora Unified, and continue programs like music at the elementary schools and AVID at the middle school last year.

On April 29, the Foundation will host its marquee event for the year, the Food For Thought fundraising dinner.

Last year the event, which combines dinner, entertainment, and an auction, raised $130,000.  The items set to be raffled off are a Mammoth Cheateau, a private wine tasting for 25, and a guitar signed by several country superstars like Willie Nelson and Carrie Underwood.

“We can do better by telling the community more effectively what the message is, helping them understand what we can do, and having the community better understand the results of our funding,” FGUS president Michael Beckman said.

With FGUS funding, Goddard is able to continue two sections of AVID, one seventh and another eighth grade class. The students in AVID are those “middle students… who need the extra push,”Lowrie said.

FGUS has stepped in to cover the cost of five college tutors that come in every Tuesday and Thursday for “AVID tutorials.”  The tutorials, led by tutors like Brumfield, are collaborative study groups that put five to seven students with one college tutor.

On those two days, two college tutors will also stay after school hours to assist students with their homework.

Lowrie said this year she has three students, “who really get it and get it now” after some extra prodding, encouragement, and support. The students have stepped up and boosted their GPA to 4.0 this year. In the past, she has had students tell her the organization and other skills AVID emphasizes are beginning to pay dividends at Glendora High.

“As a freshman at GHS, (one student) came back and said, ‘I think I get it.  I think I understand why you were pushing me.’” Lowrie said. “As a tenth grader, she came back and said, ‘I get it.  I am getting a 4.0.’”

The Foundation has provided valuable monetary support for the district at a .

In 2002, former FGUS president Carol McAloney, along with a group of residents, and former GUSD superintendent Dr. George Mannon came together to establish a founding board and draft the FGUS by-laws and mission statement.

From those early days, the Foundation has ballooned. The Foundation now has 18 board members who actively solicit donations year round from individuals and business.

The Foundation has raised close to $1.2 million for Glendora Unified schools, said Beckman, who said he volunteers 25 to 30 hours each week on Foundation operations. 

The Foundation will soon launch a program to solicit donations from businesses, Beckman said.  The SOS campaign, which solicits donations in exchange for a yard sign, is a year-long effort.  Signs will be distributed in April.  There is also a program underway where teachers and district staff can contribute monthly to the Foundation.

“FGUS has grown quite a bit in a short period of time.  It is wonderful watching familial atmosphere of the community come together for a common cause,” McAloney said.

In addition to soliciting monetary donations, the Foundation is looking for ways to bring volunteers and programs that will support school operations.

Next year, AVID is in financial jeopardy again, a program that could be cut if funding can’t be found.

Goddard Principal Elizabeth Eminhizer said she is grateful the Foundation was able to fund it this year.  She said there are AVID students who probably would not be enrolled, or succeeding, in higher level math classes without the extra support.

The first person in her family to attend college, Eminhizer said her high school counselor provided her invaluable support in high school.

“Unfortunately, I think there are a lot of students who do not come from a college background that needs that support… how to apply to college, what classes to take (to get to college),” she said.

Brumfield, the college tutor, said programs like AVID make a difference.

“There are all these students who would’ve never dreamt of going to college saying, ‘I am going to go to UCLA.  I am going to do everything I can to go to UCLA,’” Brumfield said.