Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE)

Each Fall, El Carmelo families receive the Partners in Education (PiE) request to support this essential annual campaign that funds needed school staff. Due to the state of California public school funding, maintaining excellence in PAUSD schools is increasingly a public-private venture. PiE, a non- profit foundation dedicated to the excellence of PAUSD public schools, raises funds to meet staff needs otherwise left unfunded. El Carmelo's 2008-09 allocation from PiE is over $102,000.

At El Carmelo PiE funds are used to fund classroom aides, spectra art, math aides, hands on science, counseling and conflict resolution. PTAs are not allowed to raise funds for staff so PiE is the only fundraising vehicle available to our school for these purposes. In, 2005-2006, 42% of El Carmelo families contributed to PIE. This increased to nearly 62% in 2006-2007 and to 74% last year. The total district-wide campaign raised $2.0 million last year.

Families received a letter and remit envelope in their Back to School packet. There are more copies in the El Carmelo Office. You can mail in your payment, leave a check in the PiE box in the school office, or pay online at www.papie.org. PiE encourages 100% participation from families. Any amount you can afford would be greatly appreciated!

You can find more information or give on line at http://www.papie.org.

Questions? Contact El Carmelo PiE Volunteer, Elizabeth Doi, elizdoiludwig@hotmail.com

The 2008-2009 campaign ends on March 1, 2009 and the goal is to raise $2.5 million for PAUSD to use in 2009-2010 towards classroom support, science enrichment, and arts instruction! You can make a difference! Let's make this year's participation 100%!!