Nestled in central Santa Barbara, reaching from the foothills to the beach, is Santa Barbara’s Hope School District (HSD), a small neighborhood district composed of three high-performing elementary schools – Monte Vista, Hope Elementary School, and Vieja Valley. With just under 900 students, 33% of which are socioeconomically disadvantaged and 15% English learners, HSD students continue to perform 37 points above average in English Language Arts and 17.7 points above average in Mathematics statewide.
Due primarily to Proposition 13, the California public education system is chronically underfunded. Nationally, California ranks 41/50 in funding per pupil. Locally, compared to State and other community districts, Hope School District’s catchment is particularly stretched. HSD schools are efficiently run on a budget of less than $14,800 per pupil, a bit over the state funding average of $14,000 per pupil funding. By comparison, $14,800 is significantly less than the other public schools in the area receive, or when compared to local private schools that average $40,000 per-pupil funding.
Despite this funding, all 3 schools (Vieja Valley, Hope Elementary, and Monte Vista Elementary) have an average ranking of being in the top 19.5% of California schools by the US News and World Report.
Due to these funding shortfalls, HSD campuses and playgrounds have not had the critical funding required for basic maintenance and upkeep. The play structures, specifically, are decades old, dilapidated, and in some cases, unsafe.
In the face of financial challenges, our school communities have proven to be the fabric of the district. Our campuses have been able to manage budget cuts and expectations by utilizing our volunteers every day; to work in the classrooms, volunteer their time for the PTA’s, fundraise, and donate their money to help fund and improve school programs. District parents alone volunteer over 4500 hours per campus in a typical year. However, the challenges that come alongside the aging infrastructure are more significant than those which can be solved using our traditional “all hands on deck” methods. The district must look to the greater community for alternative ways to fund the replacement of critical elements while managing increasing costs of materials, labor, and equipment.
The need for private funding in a public school is not a new phenomenon.
(Hope School District Educational Foundation photo)
The Hope School District Educational Foundation (HSDEF) was founded in 1993 in response to the state budget crises and funding restrictions for school programs. The Foundation is a community-based, volunteer-run, registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to promoting academic excellence, championing innovation, and providing sustained financial support to the Hope School District.
Over the years, the Foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to enrich the students’ education experiences. While government funding and bond measures can support facility improvements, playground repairs are not considered essential costs. What brings our children and the greater community joy? Outdoor spaces in our beautiful Santa Barbara climate are essential. Have you ever asked a child, “What’s your favorite part of school?” Answer: “Recess!” The HSDEF is committed to transforming our rusty playgrounds into vibrant community center parks, determined to get our children away from their screens and out of their homes by bringing back outside play!
Since 2018, rehabilitation and replacement of the play areas at all three schools in the District have been the top priority for HSDEF because happy kids are more engaged learners. Best of all, HSDEF has virtually no overhead, which means every dollar raised goes directly to the HSD playgrounds and outdoor spaces with proven results.
In 2020, Vieja Valley successfully replaced two play structures on campus with new, safe play structures thanks to generous donations from our community. In 2021, Hope School Kindergarten yard was revamped to be a safe and inclusive space for students with disabilities. This same year the Monte Vista Kindergarten yard was completed as well. But there is more work to do! Up next, Hope School and Monte Vista’s primary play structures both need to be replaced, and the community plays a critical role in our success.
Partner with us to build community play spaces for our Santa Barbara families in your own neighborhood. Donate to HSDEF today.
