Best in the world? Here? In Greene County?

This is the dream of the F.A.I.R. (Financing Alternative to Income-Tax Revenue) Foundation. We all want the best schools in the world, but we don't want to raise taxes or create a big bureaucracy.

The new, innovative approach of the F.A.I.R. Foundation is designed to help achieve this. We believe the principles of free enterprise can help make the most competitive learning outcomes in the world. We intend to reward teachers and support classrooms with private, charitable donations.

The F.A.I.R. Approach:

Tests show students in the United States lag behind those in other industrialized nations. While most of our schools rate highly with the State, they face funding cuts and higher costs. Raising taxes is increasingly more difficult. We can't leave our children and our schools in this position.

The F.A.I.R. Foundation wants to help. While great students begin at home, they need the best teachers and classrooms to achieve their potential. Raising private, charitable donations to reward the top teachers and purchase needed classroom supplies is one way to do this.

Success lies in your hands. If each family in Greene County gave just a dollar a month (tax deductible to the extent of the law) we could raise about $500,000 a year toward making the best classrooms in America. Even better, this isn't a tax!

How does the F.A.I.R. Foundation work?

The F.A.I.R. Foundation is innovative in its simplicity.
It follows three basic principles: Reward, Support, Invest

Reward:

Yearly recognition and cash awards for the top 10% of teachers. Greene County and your school system have some incredible teachers. It's crucial that we let them know we appreciate what they're doing. This will help attract and retain the best teachers in the world. Hopefully these awards will inspire all teachers to realize their full potential and show that your school district supports excellence. One third (33.33%) of every dollar given to the F.A.I.R. Foundation will go toward teacher awards.

But which teachers are the best?
The goal is to use a quantifiable, objective measure of teacher success. Until every school has an unbiased, outcome based rating system, we will use teacher recommendations as a starting point. The form is available here. The Greene County Educational Service Center has formed a team of curriculum administrators to evaluate each recommended teacher on 13 criteria.

Support:

Simple, on-line, grant request for teachers who need classroom supplies. The best learning outcomes will require the best classroom tools. To support teachers in their quest to bring out the best in our children , the F.A.I.R. Foundation has a web-based process that can quickly get teachers the supplies they need. Hopefully, in a manner of weeks, teachers can have the textbooks, software, training or supplies needed to foster excellent outcomes in their classrooms. The amount of grant monies available is dependent on contributions to the F.A.I.R. Foundation. One third (33.33%) of every dollar that comes into the foundation will be used toward classroom grants, and this money will only be approved for educational purposes in the classroom. It will not be used for school administration, extra curricular activities, or buildings.

Invest:

One third of the money will go into an endowment to provide future awards and grants.
It's important to invest in the future of education in Greene County, which is the reason one third (33.33%) of every donation will be invested to build an endowment. Hopefully, this will create larger cash awards for teachers and more classroom grants.

The F.A.I.R. Foundation will split 10% of the three year average balance from this endowment to supplement the annual teacher awards and classroom grants. Over time, this should ensure these awards and grants will always be available.

What happens with my donation?

The F.A.I.R. Foundation is intended to work with our schools and local leadership to meet the changing needs for education. We are asking that supporters give a small percentage (up to 0.5%) of their income in a tax-deductible, monthly contribution. All giving, accounting, investments and distributions are handled by the Greene County Community Foundation (Greene Giving), Ed Marrinan, Executive Director. This insures the integrity and legitimacy of the F.A.I.R. Foundation and your gifts.

Your school district can have its own account. They have already been set up for: Beavercreek, Bellbrook, Cedar Cliff, Fairborn, Greene County Career Center, Greene County ESC, Greeneview, Xenia and Yellow Springs. If you wish to support all public schools or another school in Greene County, you can write that in - any recognized school, private/ parochial is eligible.

Closing Remarks

We personally have set up a monthly contribution and we ask you to consider the same. While this doesn't replace current funding sources, it is something you can do regardless of those needs.

If you decide it is in your long term best interest to support the children of Greene County through the F.A.I.R. Foundation, - THANK YOU!

Just so you know, $1,000 has already been contributed for each public school district and private contributors are paying all administrative, mailing and start up costs. Our board believes in the free market and in you, our Greene County neighbors. We can only succeed if we all contribute something. Please join us in helping to create the best schools in the world.

Sincerely,
Barry and Joyanna James, Sugarcreek Township