West Oso ISD Education Foundation reports $107,070 net in first year and has funded $50,000 reading specialist for junior high

Ricky D'Arlion and Diane D'Arlion, co-chairs of the West Oso ISD Education Foundation, presented the foundation's annual update to the West Oso ISD Board of Trustees on Oct. 27, reporting a net income of $107,070 for the foundation's first full fiscal year and enumerating plans to direct funds and grants to district priorities.

The foundation, established in 2024, said it raised unrestricted revenue from events and donations and restricted revenue from grants. "We are always asking for donations, and our big selling point on our donations is that 100% of the funds that we raise go to the school district," D'Arlion said. He told trustees the foundation raised about $75,000 in restricted grants in fiscal 2025, including a $30,000 startup grant from the Ed Russell Foundation, $20,000 from the Contreras de Leon scholarship fund, $10,000 from the Kennedy Foundation (playground), and a $15,000 Valero STEM grant.

The foundation reported it directly awarded roughly $65,105 in FY25 to district needs: teacher grants (reported about $4,000), scholarships ($6,000), school support (about $5,600 for supply rooms and new teacher gift cards), and $4,500 for student group support. For fiscal year 2026 the foundation is targeting $97,000 in unrestricted revenue from events and donations and $105,000 in restricted grants, with a projected $155,000 in total giving to the district in FY26 and a two-year total of roughly $220,000.

At the board meeting D'Arlion said the foundation has "voted on" and allocated $50,000 to fund a reading specialist position at the junior high to provide targeted support for students who are behind in reading. He described the role as a focused position that would "do some modeling for teachers, but also working directly with these students that have those expert skills" rather than functioning only as a tutor.

Superintendent Moore and several trustees praised the foundation's early results and discussed the expectation that the district will show measurable gains if the reading specialist position is funded and sustained. D'Arlion said the foundation may consider additional funding in subsequent years if measurable improvement is demonstrated.

The presentation also covered the foundation's event calendar (state of the district, Heart of West Oso picnic, basketball tournament, and gala), plans to expand the gala and Hall of Fame inductions, and board-development measures including staggered turnover to sustain volunteer leadership. Board members and school leaders repeatedly thanked the foundation and emphasized alumni engagement and community partnerships, including work with Del Mar College.

The foundation co-chairs said the group will continue to request restricted grants to match district wish-list items and to direct 100% of funds raised to district priorities.

The foundation update concluded with trustee and staff questions about grant targeting and next steps; the foundation representatives said they would continue coordinating with district staff on project priorities and metrics for any funded position.