Over $31,000 raised so far!  Join the 45 others who have already given their support!

In the spring of 2009, the board and staff of Southside Family Charter School made some difficult choices.  Public and private funding sources were dwindling, state government balanced its budget by forcing schools into debt and shifting the school funding burden to local property taxpayers, and one-time federal funds were running out.  In response--rather than sacrifice critical programs--the teachers and staff at Southside Family Charter School voted to temporarily reduce their own pay and benefits by 10%. The school’s board of directors also instituted cuts in academic and enrichment programs to balance the budget. 

To address the funding shortfalls and unacceptable sacrifices being made by school staff, we launched The Quilt Campaign to secure $200,000 of investment in the school’s vital mission.  The campaign is the most ambitious in the school’s 37 year history and is critical to our success.

We need everyone who believes in our model, who supports our values of social justice and who recognizes the dedication and excellent work of our staff to invest in our model.   Government has not fulfilled its responsibility to provide adequate resources for public education and is using deceptive financial maneuvers such as unallotment, funding shifts and increased holdbacks to further destabilize our schools.  We are launching a capital campaign to build a stronger base for the school.  In reflecting on this campaign towards self-sufficiency, we found inspiration from the women of Gee’s Bend.

During the 2005 Civil Rights Trip, our middle school students were honored to study and meet members of the Gee’s Bend Quilters’ Collective in Boykin, Alabama.  They told us their history of intimidation and courage, violence and peaceful resistance, oppression and creativity.  Through the art of quilting, through sharing strength, and through building community, these women sustained their people, lived their values and built their self-sufficiency. 

We draw on the strength and determination of the Gee’s Bend Quilters as Southside Family Charter School launches The Quilt Campaign: Piecing Together A Brighter Future. A quilt is made one patch at a time.  We need you to add your contribution to create the whole.

Please consider making a special one-time gift to the Quilt Campaign today.  Whether you give $10,000, $1,000, $100 or $10, you’re adding a piece of the patchwork that will become our foundation.

The school’s staff and board can’t do this without your help!  We must rally as a community to move the school forward responsibly, ensuring that our students, regardless of their means, have the opportunity to experience an innovative, rigorous education grounded in social justice.  We need those who are closest to the school to reach out and ask friends, family and others to contribute.  There are several tools at your disposal to make this happen.  You can make requests in person, by mail, over e-mail, through Facebook or Twitter and more!  See the links below for more info.

The funds generated thorough The Quilt Campaign will be used to:

• Restore teacher and staff salaries to 2008 levels, before the 10% cut.  A first-year teacher at SFCS now makes 20% less than a first year district teacher.  We must do better.
• Alleviate funding cuts to:  community learning experiences, musician and author residencies, travel study and classroom supplies. 
• Maintain small class size
• Share our model so our successful strategies can be replicated in other schools. 

The school’s 37 year history of success providing high-quality education to a diverse student population, keeping progressive values at our core and benefiting the wider community demands that we sustain the program and collectively help it thrive. Please help us stitch together the support needed to make this happen.

The goal of The Quilt Campaign is to raise $200,000 in additional funds. We need your support to succeed!