Taking a page from business operations at colleges, universities and other school districts, the Sweetwater Union High School District has created a fundraising committee tasked with finding ways to bring in corporate dollars.

The Funds for Education Committee, which consists of local business leaders and district staff, has been meeting to achieve the following goals:

1) Create contracts that would provide vendors exclusive rights to provide services in the district in exchange value added incentives;

2) Network with community and local businesses interested in sponsoring specific district programs; and

3) Create large promotional events that will generate funds for district programs.

“While this is a trend we are seeing in other educational institutions, this is something the Sweetwater District first created in 1995 when we negotiated a contract with Pepsi,” said Superintendent Dr. Edward Brand. “This is a win for the district because we share in contract profits to help pay for student programs.”

The first order of business was for the committee to renegotiate contracts with existing district vendors.

“These vendors have already gone through the public vetting process of bidding to provide district services,” Brand said. “Now we’re asking those vendors to re-examine their contracts and find a way for the district to share in their success.”

The purpose of the committee is to find existing and new businesses that can provide financial resources for district programs, such as the Academic Decathlon, Academic League, district gymnastics and other student-based programs.

All contracts and proposals brought forward by the committee will undergo legal review and be placed on a Board of Trustees public agenda for discussion and approval.

Faced with up to a $20 million deficit in the next fiscal year, Superintendent Brand has been looking for ways to preserve the important co-curricular programs that provide students with a well-rounded education.

“Last year, Olympian High School won the San Diego County Academic Decathlon, but almost didn’t have the funds to travel to the state competition,” Brand said. “And that would have been a travesty because Olympian won the state championship.”

The district welcomes input from any company or business that would like to support student programs with contributions or donations.