Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the PTO and the Pine Street School Foundation?

The differences are both in how funds are generated and allocated. The PTO leverages family dues and gift sales to fund teacher appreciation and meaningful school traditions. Examples include duty free lunch for teachers, Grandparents Day and Colonial Day.

The Foundation seeks financial commitments to fund academic enhancement projects at the classroom, grade, department, and school-wide levels. Examples range from a new set of lacrosse equipment for the PE Department to specialty math and science equipment for the 5th grade. 

What is the Foundation’s spending policy?    

Our spending policy emphasizes that funds should be deployed quickly and that every student should benefit from the Foundation’s grants every year. We do not intend to raise an endowment to gradually deploy funds over many years. Our donors should know that we intend for their current contributions to benefit today’s students.

Our 2023-2024 Board Members