Granite District kicked off a fund-raiser Tuesday that has the potential to add more than $400,000 to school coffers.
The district's School Checks program "has the potential for being the largest such partnership between education and business in the history of the state," said Colleen Colton, aide to Gov. Norm Bangerter, who missed the kickoff to survey flood damage in Weber County.The project will involve the sales of coupon books offering $700 in merchandise discounts. From the $10-per-book price, $6 will remain in the school where it was sold, while $1 will go the Granite Education Foundation. The foundation, created just three years ago, has raised almost $1 million in cash and in-kind donations to the schools, said Superintendent Loren G. Burton.
The remaining $3 will cover the costs of the School Checks.
Students, PTA members and other school supporters will sell the discount books Sept. 13-22.
Co-sponsors with the school district are IBM, Embassy Suites, Pepsi Cola and KCPX.
At a kickoff event, Mark Heugly, foundation chairman, noted that the district is also in the midst of another major fund raiser, the annual art auction at the Cottonwood Mall.
The privately sponsored efforts enrich school programs without adding to local tax burdens, Burton said.