What's next for Cary parent foundation?
What seemed like a miracle less than three weeks ago now seems more like smoke and mirrors.
On Aug. 9, a group of Cary Elementary District 26 parents offered to save teachers and programs with a $4.3 million grant to the school district.
That Monday night, board members, who had dealt with the parent group since May 22, mostly bit their tongues, hoping to show they were grateful for and receptive to the offer.
But over the following days, details slowly began to spill out, culminating in parent spokesman David Ruelle's admission last week that the Soar to Higher Heights Foundation hadn't actually collected a cent.
After that revelation, the foundation's decision on Sunday to withdraw its offer to District 26 came as little surprise to many in the district. After all, if the foundation doesn't have the cash, how can it hold up its end of the deal?
The whole sequence and timing of the events pose a lot of questions. For one, why did the foundation give District 26 and the public the impression that the money was "in hand," in Ruelle's words, or sitting "in an account?"
Certainly, creating that impression might increase the likelihood that the board would take action to restore programs or delay school - but then board members have been firm and explicit in saying they will not take any action until they have verification of the funds.
Flip-flopping on such a crucial issue only increases mistrust between the foundation and the district and makes it less likely the district will work with the parent group or comply with its terms.
Another question is why the foundation waited until Sunday to rescind its offer. In a statement, the foundation said the school board's decision not to delay school meant the district could not use the money for a full year - apparently, one of the conditions of the parents' offer.
But the board voted against delaying school 10 days earlier, on Aug. 12. Why did the foundation need 10 days to reach its decision, leaving the impression during the intervening week-and-a-half that the offer was still on the table?
The foundation has encouraged the district to still apply for a grant. Board members have said they are still open to working with the foundation, provided their conditions are met.
But that raises more questions:
What would the new grant look like? Would it be for less money, considering it would not be for the entire school year, and what conditions would the district have to abide by?
How long will it take the foundation to convert its "solid pledges" into cash? Will those pledged donors still cough up the money even though a deal with District 26 has apparently fallen through?
Most importantly, given the frustration and distrust that have grown between the foundation and the district since May, can the two sides ever come to an agreement? Or is the damage done?