The Davis Schools Foundation has donated upwards of $330,000 — raised during a recent fund drive — to the Davis school district, which will use the money to cover several critical needs for the school year that begins next month.

“The Davis Schools Foundation is grateful for and inspired by the generosity of our community,” said Maria Ungermann, foundation president, in announcing the fundraising results. “With the support of donations, we have raised $330,330 to be used by the Davis schools for the upcoming 2012-13 school year.

“This grant will be used for classroom instructional aides at the elementary schools, campus safety (vice principals) at the junior highs, instructional materials at Da Vinci, and for much-needed counselors at the high school. This grant demonstrates our community’s commitment to preserving excellence in Davis public schools.”

Superintendent Winfred Roberson expressed delight over the donation.

“We are extremely grateful for the money that the Davis Schools Foundation has raised,” he said. “We always appreciate the community’s support of Davis schools. And this money is timely!”

Roberson said the elementary instructional aides will help teachers handle the larger class sizes that are a result of budget cuts.

“The money will also be used to bring back our junior high vice principals — they handle so much more than just student discipline issues,” he said. “And the money will help restore counselors at our secondary schools.”

The fund drive was launched on fairly short notice in mid-May, with a $500,000 goal. While donations received did not quite reach that figure, Ungermann and Roberson both described the effort as a success, since the funds will cover several of the school district’s most pressing short-term needs as preparations for the new school year rev up.

The first day of classes for the 2012-13 school year is Wednesday, Aug. 22.

The Davis Schools Foundation is a nonprofit group established in 2004. The foundation has raised nearly $4 million since that time, which has been donated to the school district in the form of grants targeting specific needs. The Davis Board of Education met briefly on Wednesday night and voted to formally accept the contribution.

— Reach Jeff Hudson at [email protected] or (530) 747-8055.

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