SPARK - Larkspur Schools Foundation is a nonprofit organization staffed by parent volunteers. It is dedicated to raising private funds each year from you, your neighbors and local businesses you frequent to supplement the financial needs of Neil Cummins and Hall Middle Schools. SPARK was founded by concerned parents in 1980 following the passage of Proposition 13 which cut deeply into local school funding. Over the past 29 years our schools have weathered numerous state budget crises. Government funding has been unreliable and inadequate to support all the elements of a well-rounded education for our children. California, in particular, is below the national average in expenditure per student.

SPARK can’t solve the frustrating lack of government funds for our schools, but we can make a difference in bridging the funding gap. With your help and the help of our business community, we can pay for the added teachers and programs that make our schools exceptional.

ATTENDANCE COUNTS . . . Did you know that our state funding is based on our attendance rates? As our attendance rates drop, so does our funding for specific categorical funding. Low attendance rates mean less money from the State. Larkspur School District's attendance rate has decreased the past three years and we are now at an amazing low of 93% Our neighboring districts hold at about 97-98% attendance rate. The average state rate is above 95%. If we do not improve our attendance rate, our children will pay for it dearly. As the State contemplates changing the structure of budgeting and of education funding, it is imperative that we keep our attendance rates up. If Basic Aid funding disappears or is no longer an option for Larkspur School district, our primary source of funding will be based on our average daily attendance (ADA).

PLEASE send your child to school unless they are sick! If you are leaving town and must leave before the day is out, please send them, even for a little while in the morning. If you are going on a trip for more than 3 days, please talk to your child's teacher about independent study! If you do that, the district receives credit for attendance. Let's get the district attendance rate up, our kids need to be in school to learn and the district needs them there so that we don't lose even more funding.

Thanks – thanks – thanks!!