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Mendocino Adventure Ropes Course (MARC) has been under the auspices of Leggett Valley Unified School District, a preschool-12 facility, since inception in 1995. This partnership has allowed MARC a fiscal safety net. In the current education funding crisis, it is untenable for LVUSD to continue that aspect of the relationship.
MARC has also had the underwriting of the Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE) to facilitate access to MARC by students attending its county schools. In the current fiscal climate, not only is it more difficult for student groups to raise their share of fees, transportation costs and the miscellaneous costs of field trips, but the MCOE has needed to reduce this crucial underwriting each of the last two years (FY 2007-08, 2008-09).
As budgets are developed, the stalwart MCOE is earmarking the current level of monies to assure county school groups wishing to participate in MARC of funds for partial underwriting for FY 2009-10 ($5000., although subject to the 3% across-the-board cut), and we hope MARC will always be represented in MCOE’s budget.
The Community Fund of Mendocino County generously matched the MCOE monies for FY 2008-09, however their policies prevent approaching them again thid FY.
An annual fundraising campaign of $10,000. will allow continuation of participation in MARC programs by student and community groups in need of supplemental funding and/ or other basic needs such as inspection or insurance fees, and maintainence and staffing costs. In addition, access to underwriting will be open region-wide.
Just half an hour from southern Humboldt County, school groups were not eligible for underwriting available to Mendocino County students. We have served groups from further away in combination with other activities or taking the opportunity to visit our region.
We are looking to attract wider application of the course in response to community input as well as be assured of keeping a full, well-trained staff.
Thank you for considering our appeal and passing it on to anyone you think might be interested and/or in a position to respond.
Suggestions concerning this campaign are welcome!
Join Friends of MARC today and help maintain and develop this community resource! Click here to download and print the MARC .pdf pledge form.
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