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Fundraising surpasses goal, restores IB program

By Raiza Canelon/Staff Writer

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Gabriella Ostini serves Karen Johnson a roasted artichoke at the Academic Booster Club Plus (ABC+) barbecue lunch and art fair fundraiser Saturday afternoon. //Raiza Canelon/Staff

After six months of working furiously to restore the International Baccalaureate Program at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, members of the Academic Booster Club Plus (ABC+) are rejoicing that they have reached their $70,000 goal.

“It’s been a rollercoaster because IB is not a tangible item, and more of an investment. A lot of people thought it was a travel abroad program, and educating the public has been a challenge which proved fruitful,” said Michelle de Werd, president of ABC+.

ABC+ was formed by a small group of parents after school board members cut the IB Program last summer to help balance the district’s budget.

The group entered last weekend $10,000 short of its goal, but after a barbecue and art fair Saturday afternoon, de Werd said the grand total was $74,500, including $10,000 at Saturday’s fundraiser.

“The momentum this week has been amazing and by this morning we only had around $10,000 left to raise,” de Werd said Saturday before the event was done.

The fundraiser ran from

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Los Olivos, where hundreds of people showed up to show support, make donations or just have lunch and look at the art booths.

“This isn’t just the IB Program we are doing this for. It was just the initial hurdle we had to face and get done, but we plan on continuing the fundraising year-round to help offset exam costs, tutoring, other educational programs that need assistance,” de Werd said.

“It’s exciting to see an

academic booster club be formed and supported so generously by the community. The IB Program is a worthwhile endeavor, and a very exciting, high-level program,” said Chris Mullin, an IB teacher at SYVUHS.

The Hitching Post in Buellton donated all the food Saturday, including chicken and beef sandwiches, roasted artichokes and snacks. Owner Frank Ostini came out to hand-make all 400 sandwiches himself.

“There is no higher calling than being a teacher, and anything we can do to help the school should be done. They’re doing it for our kids. Why shouldn’t we return the favor?” Ostini said.

In addition to the money raised by selling food, the 22 artists generated around $10,000 in sales with 20 percent going to ABC+, de Werd said. The group also received a $1,000 donation at the fundraiser, she said, and in the week prior to the barbecue ABC+ got sizable donations from the Santa Ynez Valley Lunch Rotary Club and individuals from the Men’s Forum.

Lauren Chidiac of Solvang, a professional woodburner, wanted to help by donating some of her profits to ABC+.

“It was a shame to hear about the school program being eliminated along with other budget cuts, and I signed up to help in a small way,” Chidiac said.

The high school district promised to resurrect the IB program if ABC+ could raise $150,000 by Feb. 1.

This winter, an out-of-state foundation said it would contribute $70,000 if the group could raise another $70,000 without using any taxpayer funds from the district.

“I am thankful for the members of the foundation and the community after working so hard on behalf of the IB program and our students. I am also looking forward to having the opportunity to work with our school’s administration as the IB program regains its footing after a terrible economic year,” said district Superintendent Paul Turnbull, himself a former IB teacher.

Santa Ynez launched the International Baccalaureate Program in the 2006-07 school year as a supplement or alternative to Advanced Placement classes, Turnbull said. Any qualified student can enroll in the full IB diploma program, which offers courses such as Latin and psychology in addition to more common subjects, or simply take IB classes “a la carte,” one at a time.

This year would have been the program’s fourth.

After two years of the program, only two students, Allen Aho and Rayna Jenson, had completed enough courses to receive an IB diploma, but more than 130 juniors and seniors were enrolled in IB last school year, Turnbull said.

Once the school board formally accepts the donation, district administrators can begin scheduling IB classes as part of next school year’s master schedule and determine details such as what textbooks are needed, Turnbull said. The school will also hold parent information sessions and provide information to incoming students.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, call 688-0553, go to www.syvabcplus.org, or talk to one of the nonprofit group’s leaders: President Michelle de Werd, Vice President Theo Stephan, Chief Financial Officer Debi Gioia, Secretary Sharon Steele, or board member Jourdi de Werd.

Donations can be made by check to ABC+ and mailed to P.O. Box 1605, Santa Ynez, 93460, or at the Web site with a credit card.