Committee plans to raise funds for pupils' trips

The committee's first event, a breakfast and a play, is set for May 20.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A group of current and former city school educators want pupils who score well in regional and district academic competitions to have a chance to compete at the state and national level.
They've formed the Youngstown City School Fundraising Committee with the sole purpose of raising money to finance pupil trips to those academic events.
"They've taken the initiative to do this," said Dr. Wendy Webb, superintendent, adding that she wholeheartedly backs the effort.
Youngstown pupils frequently do well at regional academic competitions, earning the right to move on to the state level, but many lack the finances to make those trips, Webb said.
District can't help
The school district, facing a $4 million deficit this year and even more red ink next year, is in no position to pick up the tab for such trips.
Claudia Charity, manager of community partnerships for the district, said the committee members are all volunteering their time and effort.
She said a group of district employees got together after learning about the situation and talked about what could be done to help. The committee was formed out of that effort.
It has six original members, but anyone can join, she said.
"It's so important to continue to engage our kids in math, arts and the sciences," Charity said, explaining why the group felt it important to get personally involved.
Giving them a chance to compete on a larger scale intensifies their interest, but, without funding help, a lot of the children can't advance to state or national events, Charity added.
"We want to expose our kids to these types of things to prepare them for the world stage," she said.
What's planned
The committee will have its first event, "From Breakfast to Broadway," from 8 to 11:30 a.m. May 20 at Carrington South Rehabilitation Health Center, 850 E. Midlothian Blvd.
The admission cost is $5, which covers a pancake and sausage breakfast and a presentation of "The Plan," an original play written and directed by Rozz Chapman, an educational assistant at East Middle School and a committee member.
"The Plan," featuring Youngstown schoolchildren, will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Tickets can be bought at any Youngstown school office or from the committee members: Charity; Chapman; Mary Jane Gingher, a coordinator for STARS (Seniors Teaching and Reaching Students); Dawud Abdullah, manager of safe and drug-free schools; Lois E. Thornton, a retired principal; and Ralph Goldston, a retired teacher.
The committee would like people to buy tickets in advance for food planning purposes, but all walk-ins will be welcome, Charity said. The goal is to raise $4,000, she said.
The committee hopes to schedule at least one fund-raising event each quarter, she said, noting that plans are already being drawn for a back-to-school carnival in August.
gwin@vindy.com