The Randolph Foundation for Education (RFE) presented a check for $508.89 to the Randolph Public Schools to fund their after-school snack program, as part of enhancing student nutrition and improving readiness to learn.

The presentation took place at the School Committee meeting at the Young Elementary School where the School Committee voted unanimously to accept the donation.

“This was the third and final donation from the Delroy Fund,” says RFE President Jesse Gordon. “The first donation was the funds we collected before the Delroy Gala on August 11, which was dedicated to closing the ‘meals gap’ of unpaid student meal cost.”

The Randolph Public Schools enrolled in the federal “Community Eligibility Option,” entitling all students to free breakfast and lunch, without any enrollment paperwork, at every Randolph public school, which started in September 2019, but the previous years’ budgets fell short by thousands of dollars to pay for free meals for which students didn’t provide proper enrollment paperwork.

Gordon adds, “We donated the second check in September, from funds collected at the Delroy Gala event, and rededicated the purpose to the after-school snacks program, since the ‘meals gap’ was then officially closed. This third check is funds we gathered after the Delroy Gala.”

The Randolph Foundation also had submitted a “Charter Petition” which they initiated in 2018 which required the School Committee to hold a public hearing on the “Community Eligibility Option,” but withdrew the petition in September once the program was initiated. Gordon noted during his presentation that the Randolph Democratic Town Committee donated $250 of the current check, upon request of the School Committee at a previous presentation.

RFE board member Yahaira Lopez emphasizes the role that the RFE plays as a community group supporting improvements in our public schools: “It takes a village to support our schools, but most importantly, to show students that the community stands in unity to help bring initiatives forward, to help ensure we prioritize students’ needs first,” Lopez said.

RFE Corporate Clerk Natacha Clerger is also the Town Council representative to the School Committee, and hence voted to accept this donation as well as the previous two donations, which total more than $1,600.

“Education should be a priority for all,” Clerger said. “I make it my duty to be a big supporter of the Randolph Public Schools. And I am thrilled to be a part of the Randolph Foundation for Education, an organization that focuses on moving education forward in our beautiful town.”

The Delroy Gala on Aug. 11 was named after Delroy Gordon, the late husband of School Committee Chair Ida Gordon (no relation to Jesse Gordon). Ida Gordon was a founding member of the Randolph Foundation and is now an emeritus member.

The RFE plans to hold another Delroy Gala next summer, with donations targeted to some other program at the Randolph Public Schools.

To contribute ideas for the Delroy Fund’s target program for next year, or to contribute funds, the website is www.RandolphFoundation.org and the mailing address is P.O. Box 530, Randolph MA, 02368.

Jesse Gordon adds, “The Randolph Foundation will next meet to award our final 2019 round of Teacher Mini-Grants, on Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. at the Town Hall’s Lincoln Room. The grants to be awarded will include three classroom projects at the Young School -- the first time we’ve awarded three at one time to one school. Check our website for details.”

Photo: RFE board members present a check to school officials for Randolph schools' after-school snack program. (From left: RFE board member Yahaira Lopez; RFE board member Kit Hoffmann; School Committee Vice Chair Christina Paul; RFE Clerk and Town Councilor Natacha Clerger; School Superintendent Thea Stovell; School Committee member Cheryl Frazier; RFE president Jesse Gordon; School Committee Chair Ida Gordon.