BUSINESSES OF MARIN: EVENTUALLY YOU’RE GOING TO HIRE EMPLOYEES WHO’VE COME THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM SO WHAT ARE YOU OK WITH THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO DO?

I’M OKAY WITH THEM NOT BEING LITERATE.

I’M OKAY WITH THEM NOT UNDERSTANDING TECHNOLOGY.

I’M OKAY WITH THEM LACKING CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS.

All kids deserve the very best our public schools have to offer. But when almost 25% of Marin students are underprivileged,* that’s not always the case. So, we’re going to make this easy for you, business people. One donation, and you can affect every public school student in the county. And by “student” we mean future customers and employees. And there’s no quicker way for your contribution to make an impact in the classroom. The funds are divided up equally throughout the county on a per-student basis, and are earmarked for one of three key areas: literacy, technology and the arts. When students thrive, the community thrives and then, lo and behold, your business thrives. You okay with that?

*24% of Marin students qualify for the Free/Reduced Price Meals Program. Eligibility is based on household income in relation to the federal poverty level (as of March 21, 2012). Source: California Department of Education.

Date posted: April 26, 2012

SO, HOW MUCH LOST POTENTIAL ARE YOU COOL WITH?

The above is not a question any of us want to have to answer. But with the state slashing $55 million out of Marin’s public school system, enrollment growing and the achievement gap widening, it just may be time to take a long hard look at our options.

Options? What options?

Glad you asked. We’re just going to blurt it out: SchoolsRule is our option. Business leaders, community leaders, educators, parents, seniors and even folks who generally have nothing to do with kids, have all come together to develop and support SchoolsRule.

But why is it different from other school efforts?

Must say, you have some excellent questions.

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WE’RE BAAAA-AAACK

WELL, FOLKS OF MARIN, WE’RE ON OUR WAY.

We have the support of business leaders, community leaders, educators, parents and seniors. Heck, we even have the support of people who don’t even like kids.

We have every single district in Marin working together (and without requiring divine intervention).

We have our areas of focus: literacy, technology and the arts. Supporting SchoolsRule represents the quickest way to get resources into the classroom.

And we’ve had some lovely donations roll in that we look forward to deploying at the start of the school year.

So what are we missing?

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Date posted:

What’s more available to a kid in Marin: Drugs alcohol or a poetry class?

We all know too well: teenagers in this society of ours have access to all kinds of damaging vices, both in the world at large but also right at home. One part of parenting these days is giving kids the values and tools to navigate safely around a constant barrage of not-so pleasant influences.

The other part of raising children, however, is doing the opposite. Providing access to positive influences. Influences that can help instill and develop creative problem-solving skills. Influences that can, at the very least, help grow healthy, well rounded participating members of society. Influences that can even nurture the soul.

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Date posted: June 21, 2011

What does Marin believe in?

Composting, The versatility of pinot noir, Cycling, Redwoods, Girls’ sports, Local produce, Every known religion, Peace, Little league, Double decaf non-fat cappuccinos, The Giants, Picking up after your dog, Connectedness, Line-caught tuna sashimi

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Date posted: June 16, 2011