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Together, MBEF and PTA Fuel Quality Education For Our Local Schools
If you’re new to Meadows, we welcome you into an environment of supportive
parents and educators working together to provide a top-notch education for
kids. Our district ranks fifth highest among all unified districts in the state.
Public education succeeds in Manhattan Beach because our community places strong
value on quality schools and works together to make them a reality.
At Meadows Elementary, we have two organizations that each play a vital role in
the outstanding education our kids receive. One is Meadows own PTA. The other is
the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF).
What is MBEF?
26 years ago, a proactive group of Manhattan Beach parents banded together and
raised $20,000 to help our district alleviate inadequate state funding for basic
art and music programs. Today, MBEF has grown to become a critical source of
support for all levels of education from basic education to enrichment programs.
Today MBEF supports MBUSD with $4.4 million dollars in grants to bridge the gap
between what the state funds and what it actually costs to provide a quality
education. Visit www.mbef.org to see how your child will benefit from $4.4M this
year.
What is PTA? Each of the seven school sites in Manhattan Beach has a PTA to
support the specific needs of its own individual campus. Each school’s PTA has
its own Board of Directors that raises and spends funds in the same school year
to pay for campus-specific enrichment programs, all technology, school supplies,
classroom materials, and this year operational support staff to keep the campus
running throughout the school year. To see a complete list of the many programs
funded by Meadows PTA, visit
www.meadowsschool.org
How are PTA and MBEF different?
MBEF’s focus is on funding the people needed to teach important programs at
school sites district-wide. While PTA bylaws require funds to be raised and
spent in the same school year, MBEF raises funds a year in advance so that its
grants can be included in MBUSD’s budget planning to pay for teachers.
While we can thank MBEF for our librarians, PTA pays for our library books.
Similarly, MBEF pays computer specialists to teach kids visiting our computer
lab and PTA buys the lab’s computers and software. Therefore, despite their
different roles, both MBEF and PTA work together to fund critical programs our
schools wouldn’t otherwise have.
Why can’t our tax dollars fund a quality education for our kids?
California’s school financing system is vastly different—and far more
complex—than other states’ systems. Unlike other states, California school
districts don’t keep local property taxes to pay for schools. To create parity
among school districts, property taxes go to Sacramento. They are redistributed
to the school districts according to complex formulas. So regardless of the
taxes we pay in our area, our per-pupil funding is about the same or even less
than other districts. Unfortunately, California ranks among the lowest in the
nation on per-pupil funding for public schools. The reality is that private
funding for our public schools is essential for quality schools! A minimum
private donation (compared to private school tuition) from every family will
supplement inadequate State funding and will ensure we continue to have
outstanding PUBLIC schools in Manhattan Beach! Please contact your Meadows Site
Reps with any questions you may have.
- Sue Bishop 310-802-1525
- Stephanie and Mark Maryuyama 310-546-3154
Mailing Address:
Manhattan Beach Education Foundation
PO Box 1110
Manhattan Beach, CA 90267
Physical address:
325 S. Peck Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: 303-3342
Fax: 303-3828
Website: www.mbef.org