FAQ – The Heart of Winooski (HOW) Foundation: Why invest?
Our Mission: Our schools are the heartbeat of our community. The HOW Foundation was established both to fund projects and programs that encourage excellence in education and to close opportunity gaps for some of the most vulnerable students in Vermont. We collaborate with donors, parents, teachers, students, board members, and our community to achieve our goals.
How are we funded? We are a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization organized to support and enhance education in the Winooski School District. We depend on personal philanthropy, foundation grants, government programs or grants, and corporate donations for funding.
What projects and programs do we support? Our current priority is the Winooski School District Capital Project, which will create approximately 75,000 sq ft of new space, including a new gymnasium, new wings for the middle and elementary school, and the renovation of about 125,000 sq ft of existing space. These will make possible new and far-sighted programming changes. Among these are new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) labs, Makers’ Spaces, an inclusive playground to engage children of all abilities, and a Necessities Store for the district’s critical food-security programs – a healthy, modern, inclusive learning environment for generations of Winooski students to come.
What will the Capital Project accomplish? The new design is unique in Vermont, if not the nation, and reflects the best of what is known about effective modern educational environments and supports the diverse needs of Winooski’s student population. Among the key elements are:
● “Pod design” rather than lecture structure for collaborative, student-led learning.
● In-school Health Center and dental suite to expand access to families in partnership with local healthcare providers.
● A Performing Arts Center – The first Winooski performance venue that can accommodate large crowds.
● A Cafeteria serving free, healthy meals to all Winooski students through the Community Eligibility Program—Meals are currently provided in the gym.
● Additional Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms that will provide the foundation for Winooski students’ continued success while strengthening the district’s PreK-12 continuum. The program provides the vital additional benefit of freeing parents to enter or re-enter the workforce.
● A Welcome Lobby housing the Necessities Store with its full-time Vermont Foodbank “Veggie VanGo+” program and warm, clean clothing for families in need. The cultural home-school liaison office suite providing easy access to linguistic support for families—and, eventually, parent-education classes—will also be in the lobby.
Why is the Capital Project necessary? The current building, which serves 850 students PreK-12th grade, was designed for a student population of 600. It is cramped and doesn’t meet the needs of a modern, dynamic learning community. In addition, the building’s infrastructure is sorely in need of updating as outlined in WSD’s Facility Evaluation report from August 2018. Fortunately, diagnostic tests have determined that the current building structure, while old and outdated, does not contain any concerning levels of toxic materials that would render it unfit for safe human occupancy.
While school enrollment around the state continues to decline, the Winooski School District population is growing, in part due to the city’s robust immigrant population. Winooski has a rich history of attracting immigrants. In the late 19th-century, Winooski’s mills offered steady work for families seeking economic stability and the chance to build a better life in America. Today’s immigrants also promise to bring energy and ability to the state.
Our present reflects our past. Our 850 students come from a wide-variety of socio-economic backgrounds and cultures. Some 85% qualify for free or reduced lunch (a poverty metric). And 47% of students are enrolled in the English Language Learning (ELL) program via Vermont’s Refugee Resettlement Program. We are the only minority-majority district in the state of Vermont, with 51% of students identified as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC).
Why are we reaching out to you to help us fund the Capital Project? Winooski city’s tax-base can’t afford to fund the entire project. With one of the lowest median household incomes in Vermont, Winooski residents are almost 3x more likely to live in poverty than other Vermonters. Per-pupil spending lags that of other communities and faculty salaries are, on average, $20k below those in other Chittenden County districts.
Matched by a commitment from our Board of School Trustees’ Fund Balance, we’re looking to raise $1M by August 2022. The total will save some $7M in expenses over the life of the Capital Project loan, which will then be reinvested in programming for Winooski students.
How can I help? By making a tax-deductible gift to the HOW Foundation by check, cash or electronic payments. We can also accept stocks, charitable trusts, bequests, and donated assets. Please email us for more information. We look forward to joining forces on this vital project.
