Frequently Asked Questions

Public school is supposed to be free. Why do we even need to fund public schools in Piedmont?

Piedmont schools provide a first rate public education.  But public financing alone can no longer provide the high quality education we expect in this community.  In order to maintain and build upon the academic excellence of Piedmont schools, which draws families to Piedmont neighborhoods and keeps property values high, the community must seek additional funding.

What is The Giving Campaign and why do we need it?

The Giving Campaign is the largest annual fundraiser for the Piedmont Unified School District. Led by a committee of volunteers and the Piedmont Education Foundation, the Giving Campaign takes place each year in the fall and raises funds for the next school year. You can expect to see mail, email, messages, signage, and other materials from the Giving Campaign during the campaign.

What PUSD needs to spend to give our children a well-rounded and rigorous education is far greater than funding from state and local taxes. If every parent participates in the Giving Campaign, PUSD can continue to offer the programming that benefits our children the most.

What's the difference between The Giving Campaign and the Endowment?

The Giving Campaign is an annual fundraiser to help fill the gap between government funding and local taxes and what is needed to educate our children. Our objective, however, is not just to plug our annual budget shortfall, but to increase our long-term investment in our schools so that we can continue to build extraordinary programs that encourage innovation, creativity and scholarship among our students. We strive to do this through an endowment fund that will provide PUSD with an annual payout from the fund.

Why should I support both The Giving Campaign and the Endowment?

It’s important to donate to both The Giving Campaign and the Endowment Fund. The Giving Campaign provides immediate funding for essential District programs, and the Endowment Fund, in addition to funding core programs, also provides long-term financial stability for our schools. Distributions from the Endowment Fund have grown to nearly $300,000 per year, and will continue to grow as the Endowment corpus grows.  The stronger the Endowment, the better Piedmont can keep pace with changing economics and deliver excellence in education.

What's the difference between The Giving Campaign and Spring Fling?

The Giving Campaign raises funds for all 6 Piedmont schools. Spring Fling fundraising supports specific programs at our elementary schools.  We encourage elementary school families to participate in both the Giving Campaign and Spring Fling.

How is PEF different from Parent Clubs and other school support organizations?

Traditionally, PEF funds “staff” — teachers and ongoing program at all six schools.  Parents’ Clubs and support groups fund “stuff” — site-specific projects like technology, student activities, capital needs, classroom materials, teacher support, etc.  PEF funding impacts every Piedmont student and all six schools.  Unlike Parent Clubs whose members are parents of students at a specific school, PEF’s volunteers and donors are both current K-12 parents from all schools and community members whose children are no longer in school.  We all understand that in order for any school to thrive, the district must thrive.  And, a strong commitment to supporting excellent schools is at the heart of our community.

There is so much going on our schools. How can I get involved and stay informed?

There are many ways for our community to keep informed of both school and PUSD activities:

  • Parents Clubs: First and foremost, we encourage parents to get involved in school Parent Clubs. If you can’t attend meetings, reach out to the Parent Club presidents.  They are a great source of information.
  • Piedmont Unified School Board: School Board meetings are open to the public and are the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. They are also broadcast on the City of Piedmont’s government access channel, KCOM-TV, Channel 27. Board agendas and minutes can be found on the PUSD website, piedmont.k12.ca.us
  • Piedmont Education Foundation: An incorporated not-for-profit organization governed by a board of directors, the PEF Board works directly with the community, parents and the school district. More information can be found at PiedmontEdFoundation.org and you are welcome to reach out to our Board of Directors with any questions or concerns.
  • The Piedmont Portal: A great online resource connecting the community and our schools. You can visit their website at piedmontportal.org and sign-up for weekly email updates.
  • Community/School meetings: Besides Parent Club meetings, there are many meetings open to both parents and the public that delve further into the plans and future of our schools. We encourage you to attend a Budget Advisory meeting, LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) meeting, or a Site Council meeting. All meetings are listed on the PUSD and school websites.

For more information, visit our Giving Campaign FAQ page.