Save Our Teachers

Dear O. Henry Families and Friends,

With the second highest percentage of AISD teachers with Master’s degrees, O. Henry provides our children with the highest quality, public school education. We are fortunate that O. Henry is a superior middle school with exemplary parental involvement. For nearly 60 years, O. Henry has provided an outstanding academic and extracurricular program to thousands of students from west, south, central and east Austin. However, this excellence may soon come to an end.

Why the potential demise? It is no secret that district budget cuts will be affecting all schools within the district. Teachers and programs will be cut. We have already lost five teachers and one library aide; more teachers will be tempted to leave if we cannot offer them full-time jobs. We have eliminated all Dance, Skills for Living, Japanese, and Chinese courses. And, for the 2011-12 school year – make sure you are seated – our class sizes are projected to be minimally 30 and potentially 40 in Pre-AP Math, English, Science, and Social Studies, as well as, some electives. We hope you find these conditions as unacceptable as we do.

In order to save our teachers and reduce our class sizes, we are obligated to ask our families and friends to donate record amounts of their time, talents, and treasures. With our library aide being cut, we will need to mobilize an army of PTA volunteers to assist our librarian. But, at the end of the day, what we need most from you is a financial commitment.

We must raise $100,000 by June 1 in order to maintain O. Henry’s excellence!

Thanks to a very generous Austin foundation, all financial donations made to O. Henry core programs will be matched dollar for dollar! Therefore, in reality, we need to raise $50,000 in the next five weeks. Our best and brightest educators are being forced to look for other jobs and we can’t afford to lose them. Although aggressive and unprecedented in O. Henry history, this $100,000 goal is within our reach.

Through a collaboration with the Austin Community Foundation, donating money is easier than ever. Go to:  www.austincommunityfoundation.org/  to make your online donation. If you prefer to write a check, please make it out to “O. Henry Middle School” (subheading: “Save Our Teachers”) and either drop it by the front office or mail to: 2610 West 10th St., Austin, TX 78703. Please see next document that explains the benefits of various donation levels.

Please make a donation to O. Henry by June 1 and Save Our Teachers!

In summary, our paradigm has changed. Since the state has abdicated its responsibility to adequately fund public schools, we, the People, must step in. If we want the quality teachers, top-notch programs, and smaller class sizes our children deserve, we will have to pay for them. Please consider contributing to O. Henry to keep our school great!

Sincerely,

Allison Laughlin
2010-11 PTA President

Vicki McDonald
2011-12 PTA President

Pete Price
Principal