Moanalua school's fund-raiser exceeds goal

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer

Each Moanalua Elementary School student will have a brand-new math book next year, thanks to the efforts of the school's Parent Teacher Association.

Teachers participated in a sign-waving campaign to help raise money for new textbooks for Moanalua Elementary School. Advertiser library photo • April 6, 2004

PTA members were amazed that they managed to exceed their $45,000 goal in just a couple of months, but they are relieved they were able to finish the fund-raising before summer. "It was pretty critical that we get the money in as soon as we could, so they could order them this school year," said PTA president Elton Teshima.

Fund-raising was the only way for Moanalua to replace the textbooks immediately, because money from the state Department of Education must also pay for office supplies and supplemental instructional materials and there is never enough left over to replace all the books, school officials say.

Moanalua's problem is not unique. La'ie Elementary School found itself in a similar situation this year, and parents raised $20,000 for math books through a community carnival. The state Legislature, recognizing that schools need more money for textbooks, included $2.5 million for math textbooks in its education reform bill last month.

The Moanalua PTA will present a check to the school at 5:30 p.m. today, before a membership meeting and the students' Starlight Concert.

Principal Ron Hirai said the fund-raising effort "was quite a feat." The school had contingency plans in case the parents could not raise all the money, but now will be able to order books for all the students, plus workbooks and other supplementary instructional materials.

These materials should help raise the school's math scores on standardized tests. "They are more in line with standards-based learning and in line with the Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards," Hirai said.

Lori Shimoda, who organized the fund-raiser, said the bulk of the donations came through a Fun Run on Friday, but donations had been coming in before the event.

Teachers, parents and students held signs in front of the school to remind people to donate, and a Cub Scout pack spent a week on the sidewalk holding out fishing nets to collect donations from passing cars.

Several businesses mailed in donations after hearing about Moanalua's need through the media. "They just came out of nowhere to help," Shimoda said. "It was really nice."

Shimoda's son raised $895 through Fun Run pledges, and also had donations mailed to the school in his name. "Everyone is so generous," she said. "We're so grateful to them."

Shimoda said the key to getting donations is just asking for them. "You ask. You have friends that totally support it. They feel, 'of course you need textbooks,' and they give you money," she said.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.