How Money is Spent | CDM FOUNDATION

Counseling Support

We welcome back Julie Bentwood, Kathy Hath, Allison Lent Hatcher, Carrie Smith, Michelle Gonzales, Ariana Garcia, and Michelle Geracitano. We also welcome back Kerstyn Battenberg and Marianne Scott as College Program Coordinators supporting the counseling department. The team assembled together represents one of the most talented group of counselors in the area and they are well equipped to handle the demanding counseling needs of CDM.

The CDM Foundation played an important role in maintaining this team for the upcoming year by providing funding for two full-time counseling positions instead of one. We are now funding 4 positions in the counseling department. In total, your donations to The CDM Foundation will be funding five full-time positions at CDM this school year! This is in addition to the funding we provide for after-school math clinic, assistants in the music department, athletic trainers, etc.

The funding of the additional positions was necessitated by the continued budget cuts resulting from the continuing economic crisis in California. To preserve and maximize our resources for the most important requirements at CDM, The CDM Foundation will be focusing almost entirely on funding academic/counseling programs this coming year. Over the past few years, we have rebuilt the Quad, upgraded the landscaping, rebuilt the gym foyer and trophy cases, and this past summer did a first phase renovation of the 50-year old gymnasium. We hope to continue work on the gymnasium but our priority is maintaning support of academic and counseling programs.

Infrastructure Funding

The CDM quad beautifies the school, provides quiet learning and study areas, and is a source of pride for students and faculty alike. State and district cutbacks precluded beautification of our 45 year old campus, and the Foundation’s vision and support made the largest single “overhaul” in CDM history a reality. The CDM mantra “Show the Sea King Pride” greets students daily as they arrive on campus. Phase I of this project was completed during summer 2008 and 100% funded by the Foundation, and Phase II was completed in the summer of 2009.

The scope of quad improvements included an entire new ground surface, planters with irrigation and electricity, water-proofing the electrical vault under the stage, color coordination, sun shade and landscape. Phase I represents a $450,000 investment in our children’s campus and Phase II was budgeted at $260,000. These are funds that the district does not have and the Foundation’s investment improves the quality of our student’s education and learning environment. Other recent improvements included the renovation of athletic fields and the gym foyer and trophy cases and a first phase renovation of the 50-year old gymnasium.

Technology Funding

See updates at Corona del Mar High School technology investments.

Intellectual & Staff Funding

The most overlooked area in high school funding is staff resources. Most parents and students accept what is provided in faculty and administration. Most of those parents and students also expect CDM to provide them the greatest college matriculation opportunities, after all CDM has a very successful matriculation story.

Students enter CDM from local highly successful public and private schools, many award winning, and expect that CDM will automatically matriculate them to exceptional colleges. CDM does have a successful matriculation story, but it does not come without a price.

CDM has approximately 6 counselors, of which 2 are paid for by the Foundation. Without the funding from The Foundation, the counseling ratios would be over 500:1, versus 325:1 currently. In addition to these two counseling positions, the Foundation pays for counselor support and a community volunteer coordinator. In aggregate, the Foundation reduces the ratio significantly, allowing counselors to focus on their primary task. This support allows counselors to focus on college letters of recommendation for seniors in the Fall semester while supporting the needs of underclassmen changing schedules and balancing needs. The Foundation also funds a College Programs Coordinator position and the CDM College Planning Guide.

Additional Programs

We have invested over $7,000,000 since 1996 in our children’s needs and created a better CDM. In addition to the above, we have funded: Music program (2 assistants to teach other instruments), grading assistants, technology lab assistants, community service program, staff development, dance floor, all-weather track, science lab upgrades, roof repairs, parking lot repairs, theater repairs, supplemental textbooks, classroom white-boards, school librarian and many others areas.

Simply said, your money is at work creating a better CDM. Please support the Foundation and your child’s education. CDM is a phenomenal learning environment, but we need the support of all to sustain our success.

Thank you,

The CDM Foundation