Highlander Funding Committee forms to fundraise for West Milford schools and press legislators on state funding

At the Aug. 22 West Milford Board of Education meeting community volunteers described the formation of the Highlander Funding Committee, a grassroots effort to raise money and advocate for the district amid state-aid reductions.

Courtney Stevenson, who introduced the committee, said organizers have established an executive board and plan multiple fundraising activities and legislative outreach. "We hope to take all of the money that we fundraise and give it directly back to the board of ed so that the bigger programs can be, saved," she said.

Stevenson listed intended roles for the committee and named initial officers: co-presidents (Dr. Goff and Stevenson), vice president Lisa Johnson, secretary Christina Duffy and treasurer Amy Lewis. She said the committee will assist with grant writing (including pursuing the High-Impact Tutoring Grant) and planned outreach to state legislators regarding the S2 funding formula and the F33 formula used by some districts.

She also said the committee intends to apply for nonprofit status so it can accept donations to support district programs; in the meeting she used the spoken phrasing "5,013" when referring to nonprofit registration but district staff and common nonprofit terminology indicate the organizers meant federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, which the committee said it will pursue.

The board president and administration thanked the volunteers and directed that the committee presentation be shared with trustees via email. Stevenson invited community members to a planned meeting and outreach efforts to help preserve programming affected by funding declines.

What happens next: the committee will circulate contact information and the district will share the presentation with trustees; organizers said they will begin fundraising and grant-development work and seek formal nonprofit recognition.