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“We want our kids to stay competitive,” said Sarah Malaniak, a founding member who was named treasurer.
Malaniak has a unique view: One son was recently graduated from high school and another will enter kindergarten next year.
“It’s a very competitive world we live in," said Malaniak, an administrator at an outpatient facility surgery center. "We want to provide programs that our kids are not afforded. We couldn’t do that with the current administration and budget so we took matters into our own hands.”
Bonnie Taylor, a high school technology teacher and previous member was appointed trustee. She's a East Orange STEM Academy High School teacher with a son in third grade.
“I’ve always loved children and always wanted to help in children’s education,” she said. “It is extremely important to have an enriching and positive education.”
The WRPEF was created in 2013, after local parents got together outside of the Board of Education and the Parent Teacher Association to raise money for programs, equipment and other purposes.
“We felt that the whole town is under funded,” Malaniak said. “There are a lot of programs our children are missing out on as opposed to other such school districts.”
Recently the foundation received a $18,050 donation from Kearny Bank to buy a new electronic billboard outside of the Junio- Senior High School.
"As we get bigger, we can provide more to children with offering better opportunities for kids," Malaniak said.
MORE INFORMATION: www.wrpef.org or Facebook.
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