Centralia School District Board of Directors Chair Kim Ashmore signs a bond resolution approved by the board in November 2016 as board members Amy Buzzard, Jami Lund, Neal Kirby, Bob Fuller, and Superintendent Mark Davalos look on. The $74 million bond was approved by voters earlier this year.
Following the recent news of a $2 million grant the Centralia Community Foundation secured from TransAlta to support the district’s schools, the Centralia School District Board of Directors recognized the effort by naming the Foundation its first “Platinum Partner.”
The resolution approved by the board at a special meeting on Wednesday states, “the first priority of the Centralia Community Foundation is that through philanthropic investment we can help where our taxes and bonds are not enough. Supporting education will benefit the whole community because highly ranked schools will attract people and businesses to move here. This combination provides a quality of life that everyone can enjoy.”
It goes on to say the foundation has demonstrated a desire to work with the district to raise awareness, funds and to develop practices that will benefit students.
“The elected Board of Directors of Centralia School District 401 recognizes the tremendous value that developing strong bonds with local organizations like the Centralia Community Foundation presents to our students and community,” states the resolution.
As part of the “Platinum Partner” designation, the district will develop and maintain a page on its website to recognize the contributions. The Centralia Community Foundation will be placed in a prominent position as the district’s top-level organizational partner, according to the resolution.
Earlier this month, it was announced that the TransAlta Centralia Coal Transition Economic and Community Development Board awarded a $2 million grant to the Centralia Community Foundation to be used by the school district and other partners. The goal is to move the educational system forward in areas focused on improving opportunities for students and the community.
The BERC Group, a widely-respected consulting firm that has worked previously with The Chehalis Foundation, will spearhead a systematic approach to creating a system that will better prepare students for college and vocational careers.
The grant is funded by TransAlta as part of an agreement with the state to help the area as the company transitions away from coal-fired electric power generation. In all, TransAlta will invest $55 million into the local community and the state through its Coal Transition Boards.
