(Banner Staff Photos by Don Treul) More than 100 people attended the Bullard Education Foundation kickoff meeting at KE Bushman’s Winery and Celebration Center in Bullard Monday, Nov. 16. Rep. Chuck Hopson also attended the event. The Bullard Education Foundation kickoff reception was Monday, Nov. 16, at KE Bushman’s Winery and Celebration Center in Bullard.

The theme of the reception was “Building Tomorrow’s Future Today – One Mind at a Time.” More than 100 people attended the reception.

Foundation President Darren Davis said he and BISD Superintendent Keith Bryant discussed establishing an educ ation foundation after it was determined that most private schools in Texas utilize foundations as a means to generate funds for school use.

“If the private schools could do it, why not the public schools?” Davis said he and Bryant asked themselves.

DARREN DAVIS They determined that many public schools in Texas do have education foundations, some for as many as 10 years. They studied how many of the public school foundations worked to determine what might be best for Bullard.

“We didn’t want to re-invent the wheel,” Davis said. “When I had the idea first explained to me, I thought that can’t be right. It sounds way too simple. And the truth is that it is right. It is that simple.”

Their study helped to mirror other successful education foundations to determine the mission and goals of the Bullard Education Foundation. A core group made up of community and business leaders, parents, retired educators and current Bullard Independent School District staff members would serve as directors of the board.

“I was very pleased and humbled by the support shown toward Bullard ISD by those who attended. Those in attendance care a great deal for our community, and they are supportive of our endeavors to pursue the BISD vision of ‘Excellence Through Education,’” said BISD Superintendent Keith Bryant. “I think the evening provided a great start for the Bullard Education Foundation, and I think the generosity of our community will be evident through their support of the Foundation. I know that BISD is looking forward to a long partnership with the Foundation for the benefit of students and teachers.”

The foundation’s mission is to provide opportunities for excellence in education, promote innovation in teaching, recognize achievement and partner with the community to enhance the quality of education for all students.

David said at the kickoff meeting that the foundation did indeed receive its 501C3 certifi- cation for a charitable organization from the IRS. The foundation is an independent non-profit charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of directors.

The Bullard ISD also received a $15,000 grant from the Texas Pioneer Foundation, whose purpose is to help people start education foundations.

According to Davis, the Bullard Education Foundation goals include:

Promote innovation in the classroom.

Recognize students and staff for excellence and achievement.

Provide an avenue for community involvement and awareness in the Bullard schools.

Assist in the striving for an exemplary education for all Bullard ISD students.

Davis said if a teacher wants to paint a wall in the classroom, that is not what the foundation will help with. However, if a teacher wants to paint a mural that will help teach his or her students about a subject, the foundation will consider funding such a project.

The purpose of the education foundation is to benefit the Bullard Independent School District by providing funds for educational programs and activities which are not funded by the normal operating budget. These funds will be used to facilitate student achievement and skill development, to recognize and encourage staff excellence and to expand community involvement from individuals, businesses and civic organizations. Funding priorities will also include innovative teaching grants that will provide resources directly to the classroom for teachers to implement exciting new educational programs.

According to Davis, one of the purposes of the Monday, Nov. 16, kickoff was to bring in mem- bers of the community along with potential donors and tell them what the foundation is all about, what it wants to do and how they can be a part of it. Donor packages were provided which includes levels of donations from $1 to $10,000 or more. Contributions to the Bullard Education Foundation are tax deductible and information is available at the foundation Web site, www.bullardisd.net/bisd_foundation.

“The foundation is one of the necessary pieces of the puzzle required to help produce first-class students and graduates and that will, in turn, have a positive impact on our community and our future as a whole. Additionally, I am encouraged about the excitement and moral boost the foundation will bring to the students and staff of Bullard ISD,” Davis said earlier this year.

The Bullard Education Foundation Executive Board of Directors include Darren Davis, President; Roger Nygaard, VP development; Donnie Barron, co-VP programs; Lance Eitel, co-VP programs; Jill Smith, co- VP marketing/events; Tisha White, co-VP marketing/events; Jacky Lee – officer at large; Terry Boyd, VP finance/governance; and Susan Smith, secretary.

The board also includes Larry Agnew, Ann King, Tiffany Kirgan, Keith Bryant, Lisa Callens, Jill Rose, Candy Conant, Sharon Roy, Darren Davis, Curtis Hippler, Amanda Tekell, Tony Johnson and Phil Wood

Davis also said one of the foundation goals is to go beyond recognizing the A students and recognize students who have overcome obstacles and recognize their achievements.

Donations from the community, including some who attended the foundation kickoff event, have been given to the foundation. Karen Padrucco, school board member, submitted a check for $5,416 from from her mother-in-law, Maurine Padrucco, who was donating the money from a scholarship established in her name to the Education Foundation. Maurine Padrucco, a long-time Bullard resident, taught in the Bullard schools for 30 years, retired, and then worked in the Bullard schools as a counselor for an additional 18 years.

According to Davis, donors will be invited to the school when the foundation presents grants to the teachers in their classrooms. In fact, he said BISD will provide school buses to transport any and all of the donors who wish to attend.

There are about 2,000 students in the district, Davis said, and one of the foundation’s goals is to “affect the students in ways you can’t imagine,” he said.

State Rep. Chuck Hopson also attended the kickoff.