It's pretty clear to me that Mountain View Whisman school district is in bed with Google .

@ Mom - Wow. That's a pretty destructive comment to an otherwise great event for our schools. I take it you're upset about the Whisman neighborhood school situation, but still.

I'm upset our family didn't get a spot at Stevenson after 2 years of trying, but there's NO WAY that will overshadow my excitement over this wonderful news! This is much needed funding that will help provide the "extras" that really should be just a part of any child's education.

Thank you Google for supporting your surrounding community. And thank you MVEF, whose parent volunteers spend many hours bringing in these types of donations to support our kids, but who often don't get the recognition and thanks they deserve.

This is my good news for the week!

@AA

Words of a wannabe Pac!!! Your language is exactly what I think to be true. You line up with the company, take the funds, why because it valadates what you want. Not what's best for all concerned. Have you ever heard of good money and bad money.
The district is more interested in google money than the interest of our children.
Google knows they are NOT getting good press these day.
A good PR move for them.
So really who's distructive?
My children are long done with elementary school.
Pact can't always see the forest for the trees.

If you have a child in the district, then you know that MVEF pays for a lot of the things our kids love about going to school, like music and art. I'm thrilled that Google is matching funds. It prompted me to give more than I have in the past.

I don't know what "mom" above is talking about-- this has nothing to do with PACT. In fact, they have their own foundation. MVEF benefits *all* the students in the district, and makes the most difference to who wouldn't get things like music and art from other sources.

@ Mom,

I'm not a pact parent by the way, nor a Google employee. Just want to be clear on that.

I line up with no company, but I do line up with the many parent volunteers across all MVWSD schools who are working hard to fund activities and experiences that every child needs and deserves as part of a well-rounded education. Yes, I do think that's what's best for "all concerned". Google is only one tech company among many who have supported MVEF over the years and I'm very thankful they do. This is an especially nice donation, which is needed. They could easily do nothing for our schools, and then we would be complaining about that too.

Also, keep in mind in this instance Google is supporting MVEF, the foundation, not the district directly. Money raised through MVEF goes straight to our kids, in their classrooms in the form of art, music, hands on science, field trips, after school sports programs, all things I consider very important for every child to experience (even those not at pact).

Don't feed those who just want to argue pact. They'll turn any story they can into an opportunity to feed their need.

This is a tremendously good thing. I hope the district can find many other companies to get "in bed with" hahaha. Hilariously epic fail on trying to make this a negative.

Leave it to the internet msg boards to have someone invent a (false) negative such a gift.
They do not have to do it, but their employees kids go to our schools as well, so it's natural where the motivation comes from.
Thanks to Google for this.

Thank you Google! I commend your generosity. I just retired from a highly profitable $50B company that matched $0.50 for every $1 employee donation.
I would love to turn my $1 donation into $3 for our MVEF students' benefit! We need all the help we can get to even the playing field for our Mountain View youth vs those in neighboring Los Altos.

Ok, so now the property taxes won't be increased? or maybe they will be decreased? Yeah right, wishful thinking.

No one gives money without wanting something in return. The question is where is Google looking for their return on their investment? Oh yeah, more housings. Like their housing planner always barks about on here.

Kudos to someone at MVEF for cutting this deal with Google (I'm sure someone on their board made that happen), and hats off to Google for supporting the community. I still wont give MVEF a penny or vote for the parcel tax until Steve Nelson steps down.

Eric, Steve Nelson is a member of the School District's Board of Trustees. He does not serve on the board of the MVEF. You can find the list of MVEF directors here: Web Link

Good job MVEF and Google for making this happen! I'm off to the MVEF website to donate now.

For those who wish to help MVEF obtain the full match, you can donate at challenge4mvef.org or learn more about the foundation at www.mvef.org.

The MVEF has zero input as to whether there's more housing in MV. They're a nonprofit that helps the school district, which also has zero input about housing. The city council is completely separate.

Some people just cannot stop talking about their pet peeve issues, even if it has nothing to do with the actual story.

" I hope the district can find many other companies to get "in bed with""

There are quite a few companies matching their employees donations. Both my current employer and my previous employer did, and neither of them have a presence in Mountain View itself. They both have an interest in a well educated workforce though.

Hope the MVEF gets a nice chunk of donations to fund activities for the students in our district.

The Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF) mentioned here has always been the one fundraising / fund dispensing private organization that studies student above-basic-needs items, prioritizes, them, and then DISTRIBUTES THEIR FUNDS PER STUDENT equally across the district. Which is why my family supported them with donations.

If you are in favor of community guided public educational support for arts, music, hands-on science , etc., etc., this is one of the best local charities to give to. Your contribution will be tax deductible. They are well run and have keep their IRS papers up-to-date.

Google did something good. People who cannot accept that this happens, this is a difficult story because it forces them to see that Google is not always the evil entity that they have been dreamed up about in some people's minds.
It forces them to admit that they may have been wrong about things.

@AA
Sour grapes after 2 years you didn't get Stevenson.

@AA
Sour grapes after 2 years you didn't get Stevenson.

@Martin Omander I am well aware. I see no point in providing funds in any form to a district so poorly run. MVEF makes a direct grant to a district in decline, thanks to a dysfunctional board of trustees.

I find it hard to fathom how some folks have turned a very generous offer from Google into something sinister. Unreal! Everyone should be thanking them for their generosity.

Furthermore, I don't think the Board is dysfunctional; I think it has at least one, possibly two, disruptive member(s) who is/are always attempting to sabotage rational discussion and decision making.

Dear Google,

If the lunatic fringe in MV ever grows so large that it makes it hard to do business in town, COME TO SUNNYVALE! Even our lunatics know a good thing when we see it.

I do understand your feelings. I, too, wish that Steve Nelson would step down. And, as soon as we get that wish, we then might need to have the same thoughts about Greg C.

Please note: You are correct that MVEF gives a grant to MVWSD. However, what you may not be aware of is that MVWSD is legally required to use those funds only for the things that MVEF says. It is a specific program grant. Therefore, the School Board has absolutely no say in where those monies go. There are contracts already written for most items that MVEF funds.

In addition, the MVEF Board decides what they programs they will fund. It is a private charitable organization.


As I said, I certainly understand your feelings. Before I knew much about MVEF, I, too, used to lump them in with the District. When the District made a decision I did not like, I did not donate to MVEF. I now know the separation, and realize that the lack of donations to MVEF hurts the students - as much as Steve Nelson is hurting the District.