EDMOND — Foundations for the three major Edmond school districts all seem to have the same plan for the next school year — increase its community impact. Along with that goal is a subgoal of breaking the Deer Creek Schools, Edmond Public School and the Oklahoma Christian Schools foundations into the modern age.

EPS and OCS foundations will look to revamp its board of trustees with new members, as well as beefed-up alumni connections and a more aggressive social media presence.

DCPS, on the other hand, wants to connect with the Deer Creek community by connecting businesses in supporting its foundation.

And as construction projects complete, more and more students are coming to these schools. Foundation directors from all three schools say financial need to support education details is becoming increasingly prevalent.

Here’s a breakdown of each district.



Edmond Public Schools Foundation

The Edmond Public Schools Foundation is gearing up for what might be one of its biggest years, said Executive Director Bob Ault.

Ault took the foundation’s helm last August and said after reorganizing the group’s infrastructure, it’s ready for some bold changes.

One of the things Ault wants to emphasize is the district’s connection with alumni. In this new campaign, recognized Edmond Public Schools alums will be featured in an online video campaign.

“We’ve never done something like that before in terms of specifically targeting alumni,” Ault said.

He said alums will not get calls asking for money, but could expect invitations to give to come via word of mouth, online through social media or by the foundation’s new website, edmondfoundation.org.

“People like to join in,” he said. “They don’t like to answer their phone.”

Adding to the push for a larger foundation reach are the 17 new trustees, which brings the number of board members to 30.

 On the income front, the foundation took in about $50,000 for fiscal year 2011, but Ault said more than $100,000 is expected to be raised in 2012.

The 2011 numbers are down from the previous year, but Ault notes the foundation did not have an executive director for seven months.

Another thing Ault said the foundation’s board is looking to grow is the nonprofit’s scholarship funds.

“Hopefully we’re going to be working with Leadership Edmond — this class that just went through — in developing a new scholarship through the foundation,” Ault said. “This partnership we’re creating will help raise funds to set up a new fund within the foundation to provide scholarships.”

In the past two school years the foundation has given $40,000 in scholarships and $167,000 in grants to help teachers pay for specialty items and school supplies.

The Edmond Public Schools Foundation has been around for 29 years and has provided more than $1.5 million to the district, according to its website. More information on the foundation, including giving options, can be found at edmond

foundation.org or by calling 340-2819.



Deer Creek Foundation

In Deer Creek Public Schools, the buzz is the new Deer Creek Middle School, which is set to open its doors this fall, but at the foundation, President Brian Harvey says it’s seeking to continue growing the district’s impact on education.

“We’re very focused on putting technology equipment and expertise in the classrooms,” Harvey said. “And with budgets, we’ve really focused on the tangible assets.”

Things the foundation has funded have mainly been electronics like new computers, iPads for learning and SMART Boards in nearly every classroom in the district.

Harvey said the foundation puts about $70,000 a year into educator grants for teachers and has given more than a million dollars in grants since 2000.

But with the new school opening, fifth- and sixth-graders moving to the old middle school and construction continuing for the fifth elementary school, Harvey said the foundation still needs funding for classes.

“We’re always looking for membership and looking to generate money for the endowment,” Harvey said.

He added that the district has nearly doubled in size since 2000, which means more funds will be needed to promote education. In addition to more online campaigns and fundraisers, Harvey said he plans to solicit more participation from the district.

“The other big thing for me is building relationships with not just the patrons of the district, but the businesses in the district,” he said. “We’d like to be very, very visible in the community.”

Deer Creek Schools Foundation was started in 1981 to help support education within the district, Harvey said. Funds are managed by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, a nonprofit public charity that has specialized in investment management since 1969.

More information on the DCS Foundation may be found at dcsfoundation.org.



Oklahoma Christian School foundation

The Oklahoma Christian School Foundation is about a third of the way from raising $4.5 million to pay for the Saints’ new high school building, and track and field.

OCS Business Manager Linda Catania said $3 million has been raised to fund Phase III of the school’s master development plan, and the remaining money should be coming in shortly.

Catania, who has been in her position for 33 years, said an anonymous donor has promised to donate $750,000 to OCS if the school also raises $750,000 on its own.

“This was given in May,” Catania said. “Of that match we’ve raised $80,000.”

As OCS seeks to complete funding for its current projects, it’s also undergoing a behind-the-scenes transition in its foundation. New Director of Development Lisa Antonelli came over in July after spending 15 years at the University of Central Oklahoma in alumni relations.

Part of the plan for the school is to add more people to the existing eight members on the foundation’s board.

“I’m going to look at all the processes, everything about development,” Antonelli said. “Reaching out to our alumni, working with our families, do fundraising events — everything — I’m starting and looking at everything.”

Antonelli said she wants to get acquainted with everyone involved in the school, from new Headmaster Roger Webb, who recently retired as UCO’s president, to meeting members of the Saints Parents Organization, which is similar to a public school’s parent teacher association.

She also added that she wants to reach out to alumni more and engage them as well.

But in the meantime, much effort is going into the development of the new 30,000-square-foot high school, which is going to be occupied by teachers Aug. 1.

OCS has been around for 42 years and has been in its current location off Second Street next to LifeChurch since 1987.

About 890 children from pre-kindergarten to 12th-grade are expected to attend OCS for the 2012-13 school year, Catania said.