Board of Directors

President
George Buckless
Lincoln Financial Advisors, Inc.

Vice President
Wayne Tapscott
HARCO Auto

Secretary
Richard Molinaro, WSMT

Treasurer
Mark Kelly, KAWG&F

Donna N. Baker
Mark Beckwith
W. Arthur Benson
Chuck Boyle
Edward Clay, Esq.
Leight Collins, Esq.
Sandra A. Conway
Norma J. Cook
Patricia Donovan
Rowan G. Glidden, RLA
Wayne Gutridge
Margaret Q. Hughes
Lawrence F. Kreis, Jr., Esq.
Stuart Lucas
Annette Maurits
Sheri McLaughlin
Joanne Parrott
Keith Rawlings
Martha Schumacher
Barbara Stratton

Executive Director

Patricia Bonney

Educational Directors

Beth Maahs-Hoagberg, M.Ed.
Vicki Whitaker, M.Ed.

Advisory Board

David Schrumpf, Ph.D.
Leo Otterbein, Ph.D.
Susan Grant, Ph.D.
Steve Seipp, Au.D.
Vincent Culotta, Ph.D., ABPN

Purpose of the Development Department

The purpose of The Highlands School Development Department is to be the vehicle by which The Highlands School administers private gifts, bequests, and donations to benefit the students of The Highlands School. Gifts to the Development Department support programs and activities not funded through tuition. In addition, The Development Department will provide assistance to donors through a comprehensive program of tax-wise gift alternatives through planned giving.

The Mission

The mission of The Highlands School Development Department is to assist The Highlands School Operating Board in meeting its educational and operational goals by engaging a larger network of individuals in the community to support the school. In addition, the Development Department is responsible for communicating with private donors and public agencies that will assist in friend-raising, advocacy, and fundraising efforts.

The Goals

The Goals of The Highlands School Development Department are:

• To identify and secure community and individual support for scholarships that address the boards commitment to a socioeconomic diverse student body
• Build an endowment program for scholarship
• Work with the Board to meet identified needs
• Develop funding opportunities for facilities needs
• To promote The Highlands School by engaging a large, influential portion of the community that will support the school financially and act as ambassadors for the school in the greater community

Building on the Dream

Since our doors opened in 1996 we have served over 500 students. It is our dream to give many more the opportunity for educational success by remediating and transitioning these students back into a traditional school setting, regardless of financial ability. The demand for our services has exceeded our current capacity. Recognizing the growing demand, our Board of Directors has initiated a major capital expansion project. We ask that you support our Dream to provide our children with an opportunity for success in school and everyday life.

The Scope of the Project

The Building on the Dream Campaign project for which funding is being sought includes:

• The acquisition of 18.5 acres of land located at 2409 Creswell Road, Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland



• Construction of a 40,000 square foot, one-level facility. This facility will accommodate:
  
  
  1. 125 students (K-8) with Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), language processing disorders and other learning differences using research based teaching methodologies that employ a systematic, sequential, individualized, multi-sensory approach to language
  
  
  
  2. 4 Life and Career Skills Labs
  
  
  
  • The Bank
  
  
  • The Store
  
  
  • The Shop
  
  
  • The Studio
  
  
  3. 11 Classrooms
  
  
  
  4. Admissions/Testing Center
  
  
  
  5. Science Lab/Classroom
  
  
  
  6. 22 Instructional Rooms
  
  
  
  7. Media Center/Library
  
  
  
  8. Art Center
  
  
  
  9. Music Center
  
  
  
  10. Full Court Gymnasium
  
  
  
  11. Theatre Arts/Performing Stage
  
  
  
  12. Speech Language Therapy Center
  
  
  
  13. Occupational Therapy Center
  
  
  
  14. Counseling Center
  
  
  
  15. Multi-Purpose Room
  
  
  
  16. Community Outreach Center for Literacy
  
  
  
  17. Administrative Offices
  
  
  
  18. Playground
  
  
  
  19. Athletic Fields (Hardcourt, Baseball, Soccer)
  
  
  
• Furnishings for the building

The total cost of the project is $9.4 million. The Capital Campaign Committee of The Highlands School is responsible for the capital campaign. The Committee is approaching foundations, individuals and corporations for funding.

Ground breaking took place the summer of 2006 and the school opened its doors after the ribbon cutting ceremony on September 10, 2007. The first year of operation in the new facility the school expects to operate at a 75-student level. The second year, the plan is to increase students served to 100, and by the third year of operation in the new facility, a full compliment of 125 students will be enrolled.

• According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, an estimated 15-20% of the U.S. population have some form of learning disability. Translating that statistic to the 50,000 students here in Harford County, that would be approximately 10,000 children who need intervention of some degree in order to succeed in school.



• Adolescents who have learning disabilities are at increased risk for drug and alcohol abuse. It is estimated that up to 60% of adolescents in treatment for substance abuse have learning disabilities. (A report from the Hazelden Foundation)



• School failure and illiteracy perpetuate a vicious downward cycle of frustration and despair. 35% of students with learning disabilities drop out of high school, contributing greatly to the nation's appalling school drop-out statistics. (National Longitudinal Transition Study, Wagner-1992)

Opportunities to Support the School available for Everyone!

Donations are accepted in the form of cash, credit cards, securities, bequests, life insurance policies, life income gifts, gift annuity plans, etc. We are happy to work with you and your financial advisors to make your gift work for you as well as benefit our students. Please call the Development Department to discuss gifting plans. (410) 836-1415

The task of educating children is enormously important and requires a team effort. Teachers, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, the Board of Directors, and the surrounding community play an integral part in helping the children meet with success. One element that must be in place in order to reach this goal is the area of finances. It takes substantial resources to provide the services needed to continue to provide a successful program. Thank you for being a part of our success!.

Depending on your financial circumstances, you can help the school in one or many of the following ways:

• United Way - as the fall campaign gears up, consider designating The Highlands School as your gift recipient by using #5833.



• Maryland Charities Campaign for state employees, use #5833.



• Combined Federal Campaign for federal employees, use #98885.



• Annual Giving - make a monetary contribution to help underwrite crucial budget items such as educational programs and faculty compensation.



• Help bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost of educating a student at The Highlands School.



• Adopt-a-Student - provide scholarship money for a student.



• The Building on the Dream Capital Campaign - make the dream of helping more children a reality by supporting our capital expansion project.



• Matching Gift Program - does your employer match your charitable contributions? Ask your Human Resources Department for a form and send it with your gift.



• Legacy League - leave a gift to the children of The Highlands School through a bequest.



• Target stores Take Charge of Education Program - register at Target to have The Highlands School receive 1% of purchases charged on a Target Visa Card.



• Box Tops for Education - send in General Mills products box tops to school, they are worth cash.



• Harford Mall Dollars for Scholars - from October 1 through the month of March register your same- day receipts at the Courtesy Counter and designate The Highlands School as a recipient. Harford Mall will donate 5% of your purchase.



• Safeway, Super Fresh and Giant all have programs for you to sign up for and designate The Highlands School.



• Campbell Soup labels - send in labels from a host of products including Campbell, Swanson, and Pepperidge Farms. The labels help provide valuable educational materials for the school.



• Invite family and friends to support the school, too.

Back to Top