Bremerton School District
THE BREMERTON PROMISE
BIG ideas attract BIG change
When we work together, our kids succeed!
What is the Bremerton Promise?
The Bremerton Promise will be a scholarship fund to provide up to four years tuition to a public college or technical school for all Bremerton High School Graduates that qualify.
- Graduate from Bremerton High School
- Live within the Bremerton School District's boundaries
- Attend Bremerton High School for at least four years
This directly benefits the local economy by attracting and retaining families to Bremerton.
Getting Started
The committee is currently in the planning stages of fundraising to fulfill The Promise to our children. Ron Kitchens, Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Michigan First, was invited to share with our community on May 13, 2009, about how a scholarship program will affect the City of Bremerton. Since the Kalamazoo Promise launching in 2005 the city has experienced unprecedented economic grown in the surrounding community. Additional cities such as Denver, El Dorado, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh have started their own "Promise" programs. For updated information check our website at bremertonschoolsfoundation.org. Join us in giving Bremerton students the opportunity of education! Learn more about The Promise.
What's Next?
Please join us at our next meeting to continue our conversation on how we can improve Bremerton's economic and community development by encouraging enrollment in the Bremerton School District.
Monday, June 1, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Kitsap Credit Union
Benefits to the City of Bremerton
- The Bremerton Promise is an investment in the city
- Families will choose to live, work, learn, and play in Bremerton
- Businesses will be attracted to Bremerton's commitment to education and educated work force
- Olympic College's enrollment will increase and Bremerton will be positioned to better attract 4-year educational institutions
- Much of the money will stay in Bremerton as students 4-year programs offered Olympic College
- Property values will increase due to increased demand
- Crime rates will decrease with higher home ownership and families' commitment to Bremerton
- Middle class families will be attracted to such a scholarship incentive program
- Bremerton will be known as the "education city"
- This can be WOW factor for Bremerton
Benefits to Bremerton Schools
- The Bremerton Promise is an investment in Bremerton kids
- Increase in student enrollment (BSD receives $5,307 per student from the state)
- Increase in graduation rates, college/technical school admission and completion
- Less mobility - families attend Bremerton school preschool through high school (and OC)
- Bremerton has a strong early learning program - this will make us a Pre-K - 16 program
- Bremerton families will retain their children in Bremerton schools and not enroll out of district
- Teachers and students will focus on college ready course work
- Programs such as the Bremerton Promise attract highly qualified teachers who want to be a part of something big!
- Build community pride in our school
Why Bremerton is the "Perfect Storm" for the Bremerton Promise
- Our revitalization efforts already have people buzzing about Bremerton
- Olympic College is in the midst of its own revitalization
- Four-year college programs are coming to Bremerton
- Bremerton School District is changing its reputation and families are staying in Bremerton schools
- Bremerton schools are offering more rigor, advanced classes, and educational and social opportunities to students
- Bremerton High School is actively preparing students to be college/life ready with its "Connections" program. Students are ready for a post-secondary education
- Our service organizations and Bremerton leaders believe in and support Bremerton schools
What support do we already have?
- College Bound Scholarship Program through Washington Higher Education provides students in the Free & Reduced Lunch Program a 4-year scholarship to state colleges/universities
- Foster children have access to state scholarships
- Students will apply for FASFA prior to Bremerton Promise dollars
- GET Program investment (Guaranteed Education Tuition)
- Bremerton School Foundation will manage the scholarship program
What do our numbers look like?
- 300 students in a graduating Bremerton High School class
- 183 students eligible for College Bound Scholarships (61% free & reduced lunch students)
- 117 students Bremerton Promise needs to provide scholarships per graduating class
- 117 students x $8,000 = $1,464,000 per graduating class ($5,856 for 4 years of graduating students)
- Some students will only need $4,000 for Technical Schools and Community Colleges
What does The Bremerton Promise need from our community?
- Community engagement in bringing the right people together
- Help connecting us with resources
- Community leaders who can help us "think outside the box" for sustainable funding
Contact Information
| Julie Wasserburger | 360.373.6308 | wasser3@comcast.net |
| Leo Wasserburger | 360.373.6308 | leo.wasserburger@navy.mil |
| Jonee Dubos | 360.479.0559 | jdubos@comcast.net |
| Mark Hughes | 360.662.2000 | mhughes@kitsapcu.org |
| Joan Hanten | 360.475.7120 | jhanten@oc.ctc.edu |
| Patty Glaser | 360.473.1003 | patty.glaser@bsd.wednet.edu |
| Chris Swanson | 360.473.0800 | chris.swanson@bsd.wednet.edu |
| Bremerton Schools Foundation | 360.473.1079 | www.bremertonschoolsfoundation.org |