Enumclaw Continues Support for Full-Day Kindergarten While Lawmakers Catch Up

This year marks the 5th Annual Full Day Kindergarten Dinner/Auction organized by the Enumclaw Schools Foundation (ESF) which raises money in support of full-day kindergarten in the Enumclaw School District.

Full-day kindergarten, compared with half-day kindergarten, has made a measurable difference in how well students are prepared upon entering first grade and beyond.

The district back in the years 2003 through 2009 was able to provide full-day kindergarten for all children for free, thanks in part to voter-approved I-728 and to a Gates Grant received in 2002 that paid for staff training and curriculum development.

In 2009, however, funds for I-728 were cut and the district returned to a half-day kindergarten with a paid full-day option. With the 2012 McCleary decision by the Washington State Supreme Court, however, school officials hope the Legislature can meet its commitment to fully fund education - including kindergarten - by 2018. Meanwhile, the community came through to help.

In that first year, the community raised $75,000 to provide 30 full-day kindergarten scholarships and save three jobs; the district was able to provide at least one full-day kindergarten class at each of its five elementary schools.

In 2010, the Enumclaw Schools Foundation raised $70,000 which funded 28 scholarships and like the previous year, preserved three jobs and a class at each school. In both 2011 and 2012, ESF raised enough funds to provide 26 scholarships.

The following individuals were recognized Saturday for providing enough funding to support a full scholarship in this 2012-13 school year:

• Enumclaw Rotary Club (3 scholarships)
• Rob and Mary Forler Alicea
• Black Diamond PTA
• Tony and Lu Blair
• Darrel and Dr. Holly Dickson
• Robert and Gerri Garton
• Dr. Jim and Nancy Merrill
• Mike and Britt Nelson
• Alan and Sue Reiter

Saturday's event featured a People's Choice Raffle with prizes including a Space Needle dinner, Seattle Sounders package and his/her Oakley sunglasses, a silent auction plus a live auction for items such as a day at Emerald Downs, a wine tasting party provided by Chandler Reach Vineyard, plus an 'Everything Black Diamond' and 'Everything Enumclaw' package complete with dining and entertainment opportunities in both cities.

Catering was provided by White Linen Catering, who were just one of many in-kind contributors also recognized for their help. Others include Chandler Reach Vineyards, Grand Rentals, Sip City, YarrowBay, Transmogrify, Enumclaw School District, Starbucks, Skynet, Trip Hart - Law Office, Enumclaw High School Drama Students, Rainier Hills Christian Fellowship Youth, City of Enumclaw, Darrell Miller - auctioneer, Anne Crandall - program, Jim Merrill - master of ceremonies, Enumclaw Kindergarten Artists and Dessert Bakers.

If you missed this event but would like to make a contribution to the ESF, you can do so through shopping at Amazon.com, making matching gifts through your employer, through United Way, and more. Visit www.enumclawschoolsfoundation.org for more information.

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