Cary Dist. 26 to donors: Show us the money
On May 22, officials in Cary Elementary District 26 met with a group of parents offering to save programs and teachers with a $4.3 million donation.
The parents told District 26 officials they would complete the process of forming a nonprofit foundation June 16 and provide proof the money was in hand June 28, according to District 26 board members.
June 28 turned into July 2, which became July 16, then July 28. Finally, on Aug. 5, the parent group told the district it would not provide verification of the funds until the school board agreed in some fashion to accept the parents' offer.
The group, which says it plans to form the Soar to Higher Heights Foundation, formally presented that offer on Monday. Basically, to receive the money, district officials would have to bring back many of the programs and teachers cut during the 2009-10 school year.
On Monday, board members tempered their skepticism - they have seen no proof the money exists yet - with gratefulness and tact. But Thursday, as the board met to discuss the issue for the first time since the public offer, the criticism was more blunt.
The board members said they will not put the school year on hold while they wait for yet another deadline to pass. They voted unanimously not to delay the start of school, still set for Aug. 25.
Board members chronicled the missed deadlines and months of discussions between district officials and the parent group in explaining their frustration with the process.
Board President Chris Spoerl said district officials finally ended those discussions June 21 because of a perceived lack of transparency from the parent group.
"This was taking too much of our administrative resources without any type of verification at all," Spoerl said.
On Monday, David Ruelle, a former board president who spoke on the prospective foundation's behalf, said the parents would provide verification on or after Aug. 19, when they expect the process of forming the nonprofit group to be complete.
Superintendent Brian Coleman has said the administration would need at least two extra weeks to call back teachers and rearrange class schedules if the board accepts the donation.
District officials say they're still open to the parents' offer but made it clear they won't act on it until they see proof.
Ruelle, who has said all the donors wish to remain anonymous, could not be reached for comment Thursday evening.
Money: Officials still open to offer but want proof first
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<h2>Stories</h2>
<ul class="links">
<li><a href="/story/?id=399803">Parents ante $4.3 mil to save Cary District 26 <span class="date">[08/11/10]</span></a></li>
<li><a href="/story/?id=399604">Parents raise $4 million to save jobs, programs in Cary Dist. 26 <span class="date">[08/10/10]</span></a></li>
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