Frequently Asked Questions about FLITE
What does FLITE stand for?
FLITE is the Foundation for Learning In Tredyffrin/Easttown.
When was FLITE started?
Work began to organize FLITE in the fall of 2005. It was officially presented to the community in March, 2006.
What is an education foundation?
Education foundations were started in California in the 1980’s as a result of Proposition 13 – the state law that limited funding by taxation to public schools. As school districts ran out of money to provide some basic services, the residents in the communities organized foundations to raise additional funds for the school districts. As more and more states put restrictions on school funding through tax dollars, foundations have been formed nationwide. Foundations are NOT run by the school districts – they are separate organizations that support local school districts. Because foundations generally support new and/or existing programs in the schools, there is usually a collaborative partnership between the foundation and the district.
Are there education foundations in any local districts?
Yes – many local school districts have education foundations. This includes Radnor, Haverford and Lower Merion. FLITE is the foundation in the Tredyffrin and Easttown communities.
Who decided to start FLITE?
A group of about 12 interested community members from Tredyffrin and Easttown townships met for about 2 months in the fall of 2005 to brainstorm and research ideas on starting a foundation. After it was clear that a foundation was needed, they decided the mission for FLITE, met with a lawyer to put together the by-laws, and completed all the necessary tax forms. Then the group started to ask additional community members if they would like to join the Board of Trustees.
Why was a foundation started in this area?
While most foundations are used to supplement basic programs offered in the District, FLITE has a different purpose. FLITE recognizes that there exists a divide between those children in the District with the financial, emotional, and environmental support to succeed, and those children without these necessary tools. These situations can be temporary or more enduring. These students, many of them part of our community their whole academic lives, may never get the chance to reach their full potential.
Our community faces a choice. We can do nothing, allowing the status quo to continue, while every day more and more of the economically and emotionally disenfranchised children experience difficulty in school and in life. Or we can embrace the only choice left, to act. There exists an opportunity, here and now, for these children to gain the tools of their own success. FLITE’s special mission aims to invest in helping these students, and thereby invest in the good of our entire community.
Additionally, the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District faces continuing and increasing pressures regarding adequate funding of its programs. These pressures come from many sources, including ever-increasing government mandated programs, legislative efforts to restrict school funding, and citizen concerns about increasing tax burdens.
FLITE can help the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District meet its funding needs in the face of these pressures. While continuing to focus on programs that support disadvantaged students, FLITE may at some time also consider proposals for support of programs and activities that continue or enhance the total offerings of the District.
How many people are on FLITE’s Board of Trustees?
There are a maximum of 25 voting members and 3 non-voting members of the Board of Trustees. The voting members represent a cross section of the community – including parents, retirees, alumni, doctors, lawyers, accountants, bankers, teachers, and other business persons. The non-voting members of the Board are the District’s Superintendent, the District’s Business Manager, and a representative from the School Board.
In addition to the Board of Trustees, there are a number of other community members who serve on FLITE’s Advisory Board as well as others who volunteer for various committees.
Can other individuals volunteer to join FLITE?
Yes – FLITE welcomes the participation of those from the community to help on the various committees. If you are interested in volunteering – please contact us at info@FLITE-pa.org or contact a committee chair directly.
What expenses are incurred in running FLITE?
We expect the expenses for FLITE to be very minimal – some start-up costs, some postage expenses, and assorted other basic costs. All of the trustees, advisors, and community committee members are volunteers. We have been able to get most of the required services such as printing and legal work donated by local businesses. Therefore, the majority of all donations will be used for programs – not administrative expenses.
What is FLITE’s mission?
The mission of FLITE is to help to assure educational excellence for the public school children in Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships and the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District by providing resources that will: (1) help students to take full advantage of the opportunities that the District offers and (2) provide for innovative and challenging programs in Tredyffrin/Easttown School District.
As a priority, the Foundation targets its funding toward programs that reach groups and individual students who are unable to take full advantage of what the district offers. This may include preparatory and supplemental programs that help to assure that all children are able to participate fully in the offerings of the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District.
How will FLITE know if it is successful?
FLITE will measure its success by:
- the degree to which it raises and effectively utilizes resources;
- the extent to which it contributes to greater student achievement, particularly among those groups and individuals who have historically been less successful; and
- the extent to which it enhances positive relationships between and among the school community and the community at large.
Why is a foundation even necessary?
The school district is funded by real estate taxes. The school board is limited in what it can do because it doesn’t like to increase taxes for a lot of extra programs. There are some very worthwhile projects or programs that may not fit within the District budget, or that may fall outside the normal kinds of programs which public schools provide. FLITE can help initiate some of these supplemental programs.
How will FLITE be funded?
At the present time FLITE will be funded primarily through donations from individuals and businesses. FLITE will also seek grants from other foundations that focus on educational and social services, and will also accept donations made by way of wills or bequests.
Are donations to FLITE tax deductible?
Yes, FLITE is an IRS recognized non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code.
What types of programs will be supported by FLITE?
Some of the activities that FLITE is currently supporting are costs associated with after-school tutoring programs in the district, by covering some of the costs associated with transportation and staffing; local pre-school programs; college prep programs; summer reading programs; and programs that help provide selected students with items such as calculators and musical instruments. As people continue to submit proposals, it’s hard for FLITE to know exactly what else it will be supporting. It’s really defined by the imagination of those interested in working with FLITE and helping the local kids that are disadvantaged! Please visit the Approved Programs page for additional information.
Can anyone submit a proposal for a program?
Yes. Applications can be downloaded right on the website. The Proposal Review and Evaluation Committee will assign a mentor that will assist the applicant in completing and presenting the application.
Please note two important points:
- All applications must include the details on how the program will be implemented. It is not up to FLITE to implement the program – FLITE only funds the program.
- FLITE will not make payments directly to individuals, only to specific programs.
Does FLITE need approval from the school district to make decisions about programs?
FLITE operates independently of the School District. However, FLITE wants to be sure than any program it might fund is well-aligned with the programs of the District. FLITE will seek the advice of the District on most proposals, but final decisions are up to the FLITE Board.
Who do I contact for more information?
You can send FLITE an email at info@FLITE-pa.org or call us at 610-240-1680. This website also has the email addresses of the committee chairs if you want to contact one of those folks directly.