Local PTA's Work Overtime to Support Schools

As the affects of state budget cuts continue to take a toll on local schools and with the possibility of more to come a reality, parents are taking things into their own hands.

In Scotts Valley, Parent Teacher Organizations give back tremendously to ensure a quality education for their children.

“We’re all aware that the state financial crisis has significantly cut our school funding,” said Vine Hill PTA member James Vegher. “And Scotts Valley is in the lowest funding category in the state. So our PTA funds a lot of things that aren’t funded by the school anymore.”

At, the PTA funds, among other things, the school’s computer lab, including paying the salary of lab personnel and buying, upgrading and repairing all hardware. The school’s Life Lab and art and music programs are also funded by the PTA. The organization also supplies books for the school’s library.

“You would think these things would be funded by the state, but they are not,” Vegher said. “We really depend on the community and the families to help support our schools.”

is in a similar situation, and its PTA also works hard year-round to fund things such as the school’s academic instruction aides, reading and math intervention program, Life Lab and the music, art and computer programs. The PTA also helps teachers with classroom supplies at the beginning of each year.

“A lot of stuff comes out of the teachers’ own pockets,” said Brook Knoll auction chairwoman, Cori Dimeo. “We try to help them out as much as we can. There are just a lot of little things that are funded by parents and the PTA.”

To help raise money to continue supporting their schools, each of the PTA’s will host an upcoming fundraiser.

Vine Hill Elementary School’s ninth annual Cruising for Cash fundraiser is on March 26 at the Scotts Valley Hilton and will include a live and silent auction, along with dinner and dancing.

“We are really shooting big and trying new things this year,” said Vegher, Vine Hill auction chairman.

Local wineries Heart O’ The Mountain, Bruzzone Family, Burrell School, Vino Tabi and Dancing Creek will pour wine tastes, and for each bottle that is purchased, a percentage of proceeds will be donated back to Vine Hill.

Vine Hill’s auction will also include some big ticket items this year, including a Zero motorcycle, a Zamboni ride at a San Jose Sharks game and a backstage tour at the Today Show led by NBC News correspondent Peter Alexander.

“It’s been really exciting to see the community come together for this,” Vegher said. “I’m so impressed to see the level of commitment everyone has for the school.”

Vegher adds that Vine Hill is still looking for volunteers to help out on the day of the event.

Brook Knoll Elementary School’s sixth-annual Mardi Gras Magic fundraiser is March 12 at the Cocoanut Grove Ballroom in Santa Cruz and will include a live and silent auction, along with dinner and dancing.

“It’s such a fun night, and we try and make it worth your while,” Dimeo said. “Not a lot of parents get the chance to have a night out while still supporting their kids. All together, it’s just a really nice night out.”

Brook Knoll’s auction will include more than 150 items, such as a three-day sport fishing trip in Alaska, a seven-day Tahoe Donner vacation, and a ride to school in a fire engine with Scotts Valley firefighters. The auction will also include classroom projects such as mosaic mirrors and the coveted “Teacher Time,” which is an outing such as a movie night, sailing or golf with various teachers.

“The teachers are all really involved and have given generously of their time,” Dimeo said. “And the kids love it. They get attached to their teachers, and for them to get to spend time with them outside of the classroom is just great.”

Dimeo says that regardless of whether people have kids in the local schools or not, they should support quality education in Scotts Valley.

“It really amazes me how much the kids and schools need,” she said. “This is a great event for anybody that wants to be involved.”

Vegher agreed.

“As a community, we should bend over backward to make sure our kids get everything they need to succeed,” he said.

Tickets for Vine Hill’s Cruising for Cash fundraiser are $75. For more information or to buy tickets or volunteer, contact James Vegher at vinehillauction@gmail.com.

Tickets for Brook Knoll’s Mardi Gras Magic fundraiser are $75. For more information or to buy tickets, visit brookknollauction.org/.