Frequently Asked Questions
What schools does Harmony Ark Education Foundation support?
We support Harmony Elementary School and Salmon Creek Middle School in Occidental.
What does Harmony Ark fund?
We help fund the arts and other programs that are not fully funded by the school district at this time. We also fund materials and supplies. For a list of what the Ark funds, click here.
Why is it called “the Ark”?
In 1991, a group of parents at Harmony School, then grades K-8, founded the Ark. They wanted to send out a distress signal (SOS) to other parents and the community – many programs were in danger due to decreases in State funding. “Save Our School” became the Ark’s motto. Noah’s Ark saved many animals, so Harmony Ark Education Foundation was formed to help save our school’s programs. Today the Ark continues to “keep our schools afloat.”
How do I join Harmony Ark?
Every parent in the Harmony Union School District is considered a member of the Ark. If you are interested in becoming more involved at the schools, or want to help the schools raise money, your help would be very welcome. Please come to a meeting or contact the Ark’s president, Bonnie Covel.
How can I get involved?
There are many ways that you can get involved with the Ark. Come to our monthly meetings, volunteer your time, and help out in the classrooms. For more information, please contact the Ark’s president, Bonnie Covel.
When and where does the Ark meet?
We meet on the second Tuesday of every month. Meetings are held on campus, and alternate between mornings and evenings. For a schedule of meetings, click here.
Who can attend Ark meetings?
Meetings are open to all interested parents, teachers, staff, and community members. We encourage everyone to attend. It is a great way for new parents to get involved and meet other parents.
I can’t come to meetings. Are there other ways I can be involved?
Yes! We have something for everyone. We need volunteers for virtually everything. We need parents for the Art Docent, Garden Docent, and Drama programs, as well as Renaissance Fridays. We need help with fundraisers, staff appreciation, and lots of ongoing tasks, large and small. You can choose a level of participation that works best for you. For more information on how to get involved, click here.
What are Harmony Ark’s fundraisers?
We have several fundraising events throughout the year, such as the Auction, Harvest Fair, Book Fair, and Fairy Festival. Our direct donations campaign begins every fall. For information on this and other ways to donate, click here. Harmony Dragon shirt and sweatshirt sales also benefit the Ark.
Is there a Parent Teacher Association (PTA), too?
Right now, there is no PTA in our school district. We had one years ago, but dwindling enrollment caused a decrease in parent volunteers. Our school was unable to support two organizations, so it was decided that the PTA would merge with Harmony Ark.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes! Harmony Ark is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, so your donation is tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax ID number is 68-02-57153. For information on ways to donate, click here.
May I donate to a particular program?
Yes. You may earmark your donation to fund a specific program, several specific programs, or you can choose donate to wherever the money is most needed.
I want to make a donation, but I want to remain anonymous. Is that possible?
Yes! Any donor wishing to remain anonymous may do so.
Why do public schools need donations? Aren’t all expenses covered by our taxes?
The passage of Proposition 13 and related initiatives fundamentally altered school finance in California. These measures cut tax revenues to school districts, and in the process, severely constrained the authority of local school boards to raise revenues. This resulted in a shift in power from local school boards to the State of California. Over the years, the State has made continual cuts in funding to public schools. Small school districts, such as ours, are hit the hardest. Many school districts in California have had to focus on funding the basics (reading, writing, and math), and do away with the “extras” (music, art, drama, foreign languages, library, and computers), despite the fundamental importance of these programs to our children’s complete education. Most schools in California, including ours, now have fundraising groups to help keep these valuable programs.
Voters in the Harmony Union School District passed a parcel tax in June 2005 to subsidize State education funds. Where does this current parcel tax money go, and why do the schools still need donations?Currently, most of the money from the parcel tax is helping to reduce class sizes in Kindergarten and 5th through 8th grades. Some of the money pays for portions of the Music Teacher and Tech Coordinator’s salaries. The tax also helps provide the Health Tech, Athletic Director, Library and English Language Learners programs, as well as a variety of supplies. Even though the parcel tax helps our schools, unfortunately, it is not enough to cover all the educational and learning opportunities we want for our children.