MANCHESTER — Leaders of Manchester Essex Regional Schools are looking to enrich some of their district's programs that face monetary challenges in today's tough economic times.

Now, they've set up a new endowment or "enrichment" fund to do it.

After a year of planning, the school district has introduced The Enrichment Fund, a new development initiative modeled after successful endowment programs at colleges, independent schools and nonprofit organizations. The goal is to build an expanded community-wide partnership to provide additional funding for projects and educational programs beyond the district's annual operating budget.

"Every year, we look at the budget and it is always a real challenge to fund what we would like to do at our schools," said Superintendent Marcia O'Neil. "The enrichment fund will allow us to do more for the students in the district."

The fund was launched to help "continue the quality of excellence" within the district during a time when the towns' municipal budgets are getting increasingly tight and as state and federal funding for education is forecasted to decline in the near future.

"As the budget keeps getting tighter, we wanted to look into additional funding that goes beyond the tax dollars," said Susan Beckmann, a School Committee member who came up with the idea for the enrichment fund. "We still have a commitment to our students during tough budget times."

Beckmann wrote to the locally-based nonprofit Spaulding Foundation and secured a $20,000 grant that has allowed the district to go ahead with the program.

An advisory board made up of 10 local residents has been selected, with Beckmann as its chairwoman. And a series of bylaws, policies and procedures has been developed to oversee its operation. The grant has also allowed the district to hire a part-time development officer who will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the fund.

The goal of the Enrichment Fund, Beckmann said, is to provide funding for projects and programs beyond what the operating budget can provide, and extend initiatives that have been started by one-time grants. Because the fund is so new, these programs are still being worked out with the administration and School Committee.

"What (the Enrichment Fund) is dedicated to is stepping up and enhancing the programs, facilities and areas of the district that we can't move forward with, within the operating budget," O'Neil said.

To ensure the future of the fund, all donations will be split evenly, with 50 percent going to its endowment, and 50 percent going to a grant allocation pool. Individuals, corporations, government and other sources will be asked to contribute to the fund on a regular basis.

The advisory board will take requests for allocations twice a year to determine where the funds will go. The superintendent will be asked to approve all these grants to make sure they align with the goals of the district. The funds will be administered by the Essex County Community Foundation to ensure its separation from the operating budget of the district.

The intent of The Enrichment Fund is to supplement — not replace — the regular operating budget and other fund-raising efforts in the communities including the Hooper Fund, Woodman's Scholarship Fund, and other various fund-raisers.

"This is not to replace the efforts of other groups who have given gifts," said Beckmann, "but to continue the things they started across the district."

To make sure The Enrichment Fund doesn't impede on other fund-raising efforts, "common ground" meetings will be held to create a calendar of fund-raising events, Beckmann and O'Neil said.

In addition to seeking general funds, donors will be able to direct their gifts to specific programs or projects. Those contributions can include purchasing individual bricks for outdoor pathways or sponsoring a seat in the auditorium. The advisory group is also looking into options to naming major school centers — such as the auditorium or gymnasium — after donors, within the school policy.

"This is a unique way (for a public school district) to look at fund-raising in challenging economic times," said O'Neil. "We are hopeful and optimistic it will be successful and a good model for other district to look to."

Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3447, or via e-mail at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com