The situation is serious, and we CAN take actions to help preserve what is essential to our students’ educations. In addition to writing letters to your state elected representatives, you can act locally to Save our Schools. The annual SchoolCARE fundraising drive will officially start in March. But you don’t need to wait – you can make your contribution now so that we can help schools minimize the layoffs to our valued teachers, counselors, librarians, and aides. These are people who work with our children at school every day, teaching art or providing career guidance, assisting with challenging assignments and finding just the right library book.

In these challenging times, more families are choosing to make their statement of support to Albany schools by pledging a contribution that is charged in smaller installments on their credit card or checking account. Simply print out the donation form on the SchoolCARE website, www.AlbanySchoolCARE.org and mail it to: 1563 Solano Ave., #537, Albany, CA 94707 or drop it off at any school office. Or, you can even click on the “Donate now” button on the website and set it up conveniently online! This year more than ever we will need to get every family participating. A contribution of $25 per month adds up to a significant gift of $300 for the year; $40 per month adds up to $480. It takes THIRTY contributions of $500 to save just ONE elective class – so the need is great, and your participation is critical to our schools.