LPEF’s KEEP Priorities: What We Learned

When it comes to our children’s education, every parent in our mountain community has a vision of what matters most—whether it’s keeping class sizes small, preserving hands-on art, or protecting weekly music. This spring, the Loma Public Education Fund (LPEF) set out to turn those individual ideas into a shared vision for our schools. Through the KEEP Priorities Survey, nearly a hundred local families chimed in, giving LPEF a clear blueprint for how our community wants to invest in Loma Prieta Elementary and C.T. English Middle schools.

The survey revealed strong consensus around core academic support and specialist instruction. Funding for a 12th classroom teacher at Loma Elementary to keep class sizes small was the top priority alongside K–8 art, followed closely by Loma’s Developmental PE program in third place. On the flip side, the feedback also gave us a clear picture of where community support fell short. Coming in at the bottom were expanded library hours at CT and establishing a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. Given that a TK program comes with a considerable price tag—$110,000 for a teacher and $32,000 for a general education aide—we did not see an appetite from the community to use funds for TK at this time.

The feedback received throughout the survey process proved invaluable. When the survey was published in March, LPEF did not yet know that Loma’s long-time music teacher was leaving, which prompted a surge of write-in comments urging the preservation of K–5 music. Additionally, LPEF received feedback from donors stating that seeing transparently which programs were on the chopping block was deeply eye-opening, motivating many families to give larger gifts to protect these positions.

Armed with these insights, LPEF worked with district administration to establish the final funding list at a cost of approximately $350,000:

• Art at Loma Elementary and CT English (in combination with Prop 28 funding)

• Developmental P.E. at Loma Elementary

• A 12th classroom teacher at Loma Elementary

• An expanded computer science elective at CT

• K–5 music

• 7th grade Spanish

Turning these priorities into reality requires ongoing collective support, and there is no better way to contribute than at LPEF’s annual gala. Last year’s event raised over $153,000 in net profit while bringing together residents, teachers, and volunteers to celebrate our unique mountain schools. The tradition continues on Saturday, October 3, with a smooth-sailing Yacht Rock theme at a private residence on the mountain. Dust off your leisure suit and breezy romper, gather your neighbors, and join us for an unforgettable evening in support of our students! Tickets and details at https://onecau.se/yachtrockgala.