HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 GRAD NIGHT FUNDING 03-17-09• Agenda Item 9
AGENDA REPORT Reviewed:
City Manager
Finance Director
MEETING DATE: MARCH 17, 2009
TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: DAVID WILSON, DIRECTOR, PARKS & RECREATION SVCS.
SUBJECT: GRAD NIGHT FUNDING
SUMMARY:
The Grad Night Committees from Beckman High School, Foothill High School and
Tustin High School have submitted requests for funding assistance from the City
Council.
RECOMMENDATION:
Pleasure of the Council
FISCAL IMPACT:
Grad Night donations are not currently identified as funded in the 2008-09 FY Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The City has received the attached letters from the Grad Night Committees of the three
Tustin Area high schools requesting donations for their Grad Night events. Requests
from local high schools have taken place since 1989. In 2008, the City Council
appropriated $2,250 to each of the schools, which was 75% of the previous year's
(2007) donation of $3,000.
Consistent with City Council policy, staff recommends each high school be considered
to receive 50% of the 2007 donation of $3,000. If approved, each school would receive
$1,500 to support their Grad Night programs.
The Grad Night Committees are made up of parent volunteers. The committees need
help to provide safe graduation celebrations for more than 1,200 Tustin Area graduating
seniors. This program is designed to keep Tustin teens safe, while delivering the
message that there are appropriate ways to celebrate. This year Beckman and Foothill
High School Grad Nights are scheduled for Thursday, June 18, and Tustin High
School's Grad Night will be held Friday, June 19.
Representatives from the three high schools will be in attendance to answer any
questions.
G
Davi 'son, Director
Parks and Recreation Services
Page 2
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Beckman High School
3588 Bryan Avenue
Irvine, CA 92602
2009 Grad Night Committee
Request for Donation
I~eaz Donor:
The Beckman High School Grad Night Committee is planning a safe and enjoyable evening for
our senior class. This event is relatively new to Beckman as this is only the third graduating
class from our school. We are excited to be able to provide our young adults with an evening of
dancing, food and fun. The entire event is funded by our parents and community members.
That's why we need you!
You can help in two different ways:
- Make a cash donation to support the event, made payable to Beckman P.T.O.
- Donate a product or service that would appeal to our graduates for our raffle
All donations go directly to support the Grad Night to be held on June 18, 2009. Your
commitment and generosity to the Beckman High School Grad Night benefits the young men
and women in our school.
Our committee and school thank you in advance for your contribution. Should you need
additional information, please contact Bazbara Kaprielian at bkaprielian(c~cox.net or Sharon
Roberts at robfab5(a aol.com.
We will be happy to personally pick up any donations that you can make!
Gratefully,
Bazbara Kaprielian
Sharon Roberts
Grad Night Co-Chairs
Non Profit Tax I.D. Number: 77-0633834
Checks may be sent:
Atten: Barbara Kaprielian
12945 Crawford Drive
"Tustin, CA 92782
January 17, 2009
To Mayor Doug Davert:
RECEIVED
JAN 2 l 2~9
Parks & Recreation Services
We are writing to you on behalf of Foothill High School Grad Night Committee.
We are respectfully requesting a donation to help provide a safe environment for
the seniors of our city to celebrate their graduation from high school.
The fact that 60% of teen accidents involve drugs and alcohol make it imperative
for high schools to provide safe environments for seniors to enjoy their last night
together. Your past support of these events has been greatly appreciated. It
illustrates that the City of Tustin understands the importance and seriousness of
keeping Tustin teens safe by helping to sponsor events that show high school
graduates the appropriate ways to celebrate --without the use of alcohol and
drugs.
We are so thankful to be able to offer this safe and sober event to the young
adults graduating this year and know that the Tustin community is also comforted
to know that there is a way for graduates to celebrate safely. The City of Tustin's
monetary donation will help us to underwire event costs and scholarship several
seniors, which might otherwise not be able to attend. The families throughout
Tustin are grateful to have council members that continue to lend support to
these important high school events.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
With Sincere appreciation,
The Foothill High Grad Night Committee
Jodi Twomey
Grad Night Co-chair
(714)731-5933
JonathanBlackmore I. Hi h School
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` 1171 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92780
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Cesar Flores
AsslstantPrzncipal ;
~ s Phone: (714) 730-7430 FAX: (714) 730-7568
A History of Excellence, a Futureaf Promise
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JoAnne Motter
Assistant Principal February 21, 2009
Parks and Recreation
Chad Smith City of Tustin
Assistant Principal City Hall
Centennial Way
Tustin, CA 92780
Dear Committee Members:
Gn Friday June l9~', the Tustin High School Class of 2009 will be attending grad night to celebrate
their efforts and accomplishments over the past four years. Since these students have attended Tustin
High, the school's test scores on state mandated tests have dramatically increased and the spirit of
TH5 has risen in considerable proportions. Grad Night is an essential part of the high school
experience. It provides a safe location and an affordable celebration where the students can spend
their last night together as a graduating class sharing the memories that will last a lifetime.
Unfortunately graduation night is on a Friday this year. The THS Grad Night Committee had no
choice in the date of graduation, preferring that it is not on a Friday because of additional costs and
safety of our students, however the TUSD scheduled it for Friday against our wishes. In light of
these issues we are looking for grants to offset the increased costs to create a safe environment for
these Tustin graduates.
Tustin High is a very eclectic school with many of our THS students/families coming from an
extremely limited economic environment. Increasing the participation cost, especially in these
challenging economic times, would eliminate many of the students' ability to afford even the slightest
! price increase. We have in the past years used the monies received from grants and donations to
offset the costs of the evening, and keep the ticket price down- This year we have been challenged
not only with preparing a fun and safe evening to honor our graduates, but as the graduation falls on a
I Friday evening we have been burdened with additional financial costs from facilities. These venues
do not want to close their doors at an earlier hour and lose summer revenue in order to support our
grad night activities. In order to balance the loss -they increase the weekend rate. The Speed Zone
requires an additional $3000 to accommodate our celebration in addition to the original fees of $90
per person. Although we reserved this location in the fall, the additional fees were not brought to our
attention until the contract was drafted this January. The facility had quoted us the pricing based on a
Sunday-Thurs. event and realized that unlike last year, our Graduation was on a Friday evening. The
opportunity to move or change our location has been a difficult challenge this late in the preparations,
and raising the cost of grad night to the students will financially prevent many of the deserving
graduates from attending the event where they can have a safe environment to celebrate. As Grad
Night can be of the most dangerous evenings for our high school students, it is essential that THS
provide an evening that will safely contain our students while providing a venue for celebration,
entertainment and closure.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of a contribution. As a Tustin community based service
organization, l00% of your donation will go directly to offset costs of Tustin residents and will
demonstrate to our young people that a greater community applauds their accomplishments and that
hard work is recognized. As parents, teachers and administrators, we have done our best to provide
these children with the appropriate tools and skills to be successful, contributing members of the
community. We appreciate any contribution you can make to allow them to safely celebrate this
milestone in their lives.
Sincerely,
Shelleyanne Rein
Tustin High School Grad Night, Booster Club President
Contact Number - 714-317-9291
Please make your tax deductible check payable to:
Tustin High Grad Night 2009 Tax ID# 96-2892821