http://66.225.205.104/1213ASCcms.mp3
The Arts and Science Council is trying to raise $1 million to put toward field trips and arts education for CMS students. As budgets tightened over the past few years, the cost of field trips has fallen largely on PTAs. The Arts and Science Council has pitched in with sizable donations. In 2007, it gave $1.5 million to help defray the cost of cultural field trips and training teachers to incorporate more art in the classroom. But the ASC had to significantly scale back its giving as donations slowed and some federal education grants were cut. President of the ASC Scott Provancher says the group wants to make up for that loss in revenue with donations this year. "We're trying to train and teach our children creativity, learning agility, and the ability to problem solve," says Provancher. "These are core skills that many of these programs that are integrated in these schools are helping to teach." So far the fund has received $600,000 in pledges from local businesses and the C.D. Spangler Foundation. The drive will coincide with the ASC's annual campaign. Provancher expects this year's annual campaign goal to at least match last year's $7.3 million.
