Schools Plus is an all volunteer group of Santa Rosa citizens whose mission is funding sports, music, art, drama and other enrichment programs for students in Santa Rosa’s public secondary schools.

Organized as a California, not-for-profit-corporation, Schools Plus consists of an operations board and an endowment committee. Both are supported by community businesses and by city government. We operate without any paid administrative staff.

"The world our children inhabit is so different, radically so, than the on that we inherited. An increasingly open global economy requires -- absolutely requires -- that all of us be better educated, more skilled, more adaptable and more capable of working collaboratively. We must not forget that no nation can remain great without a truly well educated people. No nation can remain good without transmitting the fundamental values of a civil society to each new generation. No nation can remain strong unless it puts its young people at the forefront of its concerns."

- William E. Brock from An American Imperative

• President:  Jill K. Peterson
• Vice President:  Jeff Carniglia
• Secretary: Patrick Stelzner
• VP of Marketing: Windy Swindt
• Treasurer: Kelly Dibblee
• Chairman of the Board: John Bribiescas

Board

• Amy Chiurco
• Laura Clelland
• Sally Frey
• Ted Grafe
• Ashley Haskins
• Ann Hurd
• Keith LaVine
• Carrie Joseph
• Brendan Kunkle

• Adam Lewis
• Jason Lea
• Rick Niles
• Orhan Sarabi
• Clint Shubel
• Kelly Steele
• Tracy Weitzenberg
• Paul Zamarian

Schools Plus is currently in need of Volunteers.

Join us and help make a difference in our community. Click Here to volunteer.

Please contact us with any questions you may have.

Schools Plus Endowment Committee is made up of community leaders, concerned parents and businesses that serve the greater Santa Rosa community.

Endowment Committee Members

• Steve Arrow
• John Bribiescas
• Kris Baird
• Libby Hutton
• Diane Keegan

• Phil Kelly
• Bruce Kelm
• Maisie McCarty
• Bill Stirnus
• Wayne Wolski

Since 1990, Schools Plus has allocated over $3 million to Santa Rosa’s public schools for sports and arts programs, making a positive, collective impact on more than 15,000 students annually. In the next few years, we will be closing in on $4 million raised for sports, music and art.

In late 2010, when the Santa Rosa School Board announced the elimination of spring high school and middle school sports for 2011, in concert with City Schools, we doubled-down on our mission to guarantee spring sports would not be eliminated, that the current generation of students will have all the opportunities of past generations. This is the third time Schools Plus, in partnership with SRCS, has been instrumental in saving high school sports in Santa Rosa, thus saving the North Bay League.

This summer, Schools Plus is celebrating twenty-two years (1990 – 2012) in the community by working hard to follow through on our commitment which is integral to maintaining quality high school and middle school art, music and sports programs in our communities. As we move through each school year, the crisis, however, seems only to be postponed, not averted. A recent city schools budget analysis states, “As reported at the time of the second interim report, the District is faced with expenditure reductions over $8 million in 2012-2013…the District must once again prepare for significant expenditure reductions.” Subsequently, future cuts threaten elimination of all high school sports programs, not just spring sports.

Schools Plus has faith that Santa Rosa will not allow this to happen. As we move forward, we’re proud to introduce to the community our new and expanded board of directors.* This all volunteer, blue ribbon group is committed to sustained efforts to save high school and middle school sports for as long as it takes. Please note that through the entirety of our twenty-two (22) years, fifty percent (50%) of funds raised have always gone to art and music programs in Santa Rosa’s public secondary schools.

By March, 2012, for the twenty-second consecutive year, Schools Plus will once again allocate $100,000.00 to the SRCS five middle schools, the five comprehensive senior high schools and Ridgway (alternative) High School.

SCHOOLS PLUS BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED!

Contact Us Today and Become a Schools Plus Board Member or Volunteer!

We have a wonderful group of concerned parents, educators and community members who comprise our Board and together we raise much-needed funds for Santa Rosa area school enrichment programs.

The commitment is a one-hour evening meeting once or twice a month and it’s a lot of fun. We raise funds for a VERY worthwhile cause, and you'll be making a real difference in our community and in the lives of our children.

"The fate we impose on our children today shall be the fate of all of us tomorrow."

- Robert Kennedy

2011 President Ashley Haskins

"A rally call to the community rang out in early 2010 to save high school spring sports. I joined Schools Plus dedicated to not letting high school and middle school spring sports disappear in the short run, but also to prevent any of our school sports and arts programs from being cut in the long run. In less than five months, a newly formed group of people committed to the same mission organized the first, A Night Under the Lights gala event! The goal was to raise enough money to save high school and middle school spring sports programs. We had a great event, but no clear leadership roles had been defined [within the new group]. So, when the dust settled at the beginning of 2011, we went about the task of electing new officers to the regenerated board…I want to thank all of you for the privilege of being president for 2011. I have learned a lot and enjoyed every minute! You are an amazing group of professionals and it has been an honor to work with you. I look forward to supporting Jill (Peterson) as she takes on the role of president. Thank you so much again for your support last year, and all you do for our kids! You rock!"

Ashley is a third grade teacher at Hidden Valley Elementary School. She and her husband Dean have two children in our schools.

2012 President Jill Peterson

“Schools Plus has been a part of my life for the past 20 years. I was in middle school when my mother, Diane Keegan, helped start Schools Plus. There was a huge need to help save sports, music and arts programs back then and there still is now. It's hard to believe all these years have passed and we are still facing the same crisis. It's such a shame.

Thank goodness Schools Plus came along when it did. I can’t even begin to think about what my high school and middle school experiences would have been like without those important programs that were such a huge part of my school life. These opportunities taught me so much about who I was and helped me develop into who I am today. Now that I have children of my own, the thought of them being faced with the same situation of losing these activities in their school makes me sick. I knew that I needed to help by taking an active role in making sure that we take steps to make sure these programs are not lost. Joining the Schools Plus Board was the best decision I could have made. It feels good to be pro-active, and put myself behind something that I believe in so strongly. Just like we have been doing for the past 22 years, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to keeping sports, arts and music programs in Santa Rosa’s secondary schools. I am so proud of what our second generation board has already done in the past two years, and I look forward to what's ahead for Schools Plus and our kids.”

Incoming Schools Plus President Jill was an outstanding high school soccer player. Jill is a specialist with the Roseland School District. She and her husband Dave have three children in our schools.