LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) – The Aquinas Catholic Schools Foundation announced a fundraising campaign with the goal to raise $3 million to improve faculty pay and retention.
The public capital campaign, called “Invest in the Best”, will seek out donations from Aquinas alumni to help meet its Human Capital Fund overall goal of $10 million dollars.
That fund currently has $7 million dollars pledged from generous benefactors made during the silent phase of the campaign.
All donations are earmarked to go towards attracting, compensating and retaining Aquinas Catholic Schools faculty that currently include nearly 200 teachers, coaches and support staff.
Aquinas Catholic Schools President Ted Knutson said it’s time to address the pay gap between public and private school funding.
Ted Knutson, President of Aquinas Catholic Schools
“You know, our teachers traditionally get paid a little less than the market, but they understand that,” Knutson said. “We have great kids and a great mission, but at the same time we want to recognize that, because we understand that great people produce great people.”
Associate Director of Marketing Mike Desmond added that Aquinas Schools have campaigned for funds in the past for facility and equipment improvements, but it’s quality teachers that are needed most.
Mike Knutson, Associate Director of Marketing, Aquinas Catholic Schools
“We’ve raised money for new gyms, we’ve raised money for new computer labs and new computer equipment and STEM,” Desmond said. “But you know something? Unless there’s great teachers in the front of that classroom or coaching that kid, all of that money really doesn’t mean much.”
Knutson said the campaign will likely last a year but with the generous response already, the $3 million dollar goal could be met sooner.