By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@TheCitizenNews.com

A fund-raising foundation is needed to make Fayette's Partners in Education program more effective, says Mark Hall of the Chamber of Commerce.

Hall, representing the chamber's Partners in Education Committee, proposed the formation of a Fayette County Education Foundation to the Board of Education recently.

“We can never support our schools enough,” said Hall, who also is former school board chairman.

The proposed foundation would be a joint venture between the Board of Education and the chamber, according to Hall.

Based on a similar model created in Fulton county, Hall explained that the foundation would be established so that individuals, businesses and organizations could contribute to a tax deductible fund. A 10- to 15-member board would be established to oversee the foundation and would take responsibility for the generation and expenditure of all funds within its guidelines.

Programs being considered include mini-grants to schools, teachers and educational programs for expenses not covered in the normal operating budget, recognition programs for outstanding students and teachers, and special scholarships for students and teachers, particularly in critical need areas such as special education, math and science.

Board members called the foundation proposal “a good idea” and gave Hall the go ahead to proceed.