The board of Academic Boosters is undergoing a transformation as multiple members are shifting positions, leaving three open for parent applicants, including secretary, financial secretary, and classes and testing chair. Academic Boosters is a parent-supported, non-profit organization that aims to improve the academic environment at Monte Vista.
“Our primary purpose is to raise funds… so that we can provide additional class sections for the school year…so that class sizes can be reduced,” said co-president Erika Goldstein.
The open positions were previously held by Juliet Haloulos, Pinky Keswani, Jessica Huard, and Indrani Dasgupta, but Juliet Haloulos is moving up to serve as co-president with current co-president Erika Goldstein. Additionally, Jessica Huard and Indrani Dasgupta will be leaving the board of Academic Boosters, leaving the classes and testing chair open to new Monte Vista parents.
As of right now, most of the board positions are occupied by parents and guardians since the organization was started only a few years ago and is still relatively new. But even though student positions in the program are limited, students can still be involved by giving feedback about the changes they’d like to see in the academic environment at Monte Vista and where they want Academic Boosters funding to go toward.
“The school community that we want needs lots of parental involvement,” Huard said. She also encourages parents to apply for the open positions because participation in the board of Academic Boosters allows parents to know what is happening at school, get to know more of the administration, and be more connected with the school in general.
The role of Academic Boosters has become increasingly important in light of recent district-wide budget cuts as their fundraising helps reduce the direct negative impact on Monte Vista.
“[The program] is essential; in the absence of [it], we wouldn’t be able to offer many programs here…” Principal Dr. Kevin Ahern said. “[If we had even more] additional sections funded by [Academic] Boosters, that would offset some of the losses we have with respect to our reductions right now in the district.”
In addition to providing class sections, Academic Boosters organizes resources, such as SAT bootcamps, AP exam preparation, and mock AP exams for students to take both in winter and closer to AP exam season in order to track their progress.
Dr. Ahern serves as the site representative and a participant in the executive board, but he only provides information as he is a non-voting member.
“My role is making sure we maintain that structure [of funding going primarily towards class sections],” Dr. Ahern said. “It’s more about generating money here on campus to be able to provide primarily for teacher sections.”
