At the Educational Opportunity Fund for the Lake Placid Central School District, we are getting ready for the new school year, too. Once again, the Ed Op Fund is planning to provide books, field trips, career exposure and innovative learning experiences for LPCSD students. We want to ensure that all Lake Placid students enjoy the same high-quality social, cultural and academic learning experiences that in the past only some have been able to access. We believe that every student can achieve their dream in life if provided with the opportunity to do so.

The Ed Op Fund is a private nonprofit group, governed by a board of trustees — local community members — who want to make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth, and build a better community for everyone. At the Ed Op Fund, we believe that all students have the potential to make the most of their lives. We also know that some students face barriers that can keep them from reaching their dreams. We want to help lower those barriers and open doors to all children by providing them with opportunities that they might not otherwise experience.

We ensure that cost is no barrier by making these opportunities free and universal. We provide funds that allow the school district to expand field trips — including trips to Albany, Proctors Theatre and the Lake Placid Center for the Arts; and to colleges, universities and technical schools. We support “Learn from the Pros,” the district’s career education program that exposes students to new and exciting career fields. We promote a love of books by financing the school district’s summer reading programs, allowing each student to select books of their own that they can read and keep. We support teacher and student innovation grants, financing new and exciting learning experiences based on ideas that students and teachers propose themselves. We are also prepared to help any student overcome financial hurdles that get in their way to reaching their educational goals. This year, we have committed $42,750 to support these programs. We are able to raise these funds thanks to the generosity of our local community members. Thank you!

Even more exciting, we are not alone in recognizing the importance of providing universal opportunities at no cost to students and families. The LPCSD is a leader in providing universal free opportunities. These include Universal PreK4, PSATs and SATs without fees, free breakfast and lunch for all students, spring musical attendance at no charge and many new experiences emerging from the district’s Community Schools program — like spring break staycations. The district makes use of federal, state, local and private philanthropic funds to ensure all students can access these opportunities.

The Lake Placid Central School District and the Ed Op Fund agree that it is critically important to reduce the opportunity gap in order to improve the learning and life chances for all students. We share this commitment and act in partnership.

Although Ed Op Fund trustees have raised enough to pay for this year’s program, the Fund is always accepting donations to be used for additional programs now and in the future.

Donations can be made to the Ed Op Fund at www.edopfund.org. And best wishes to Lake Placid’s students, teachers, staff and parents for a wonderful 2024-25 school year!

(Roger Catania is a retired superintendent of the Lake Placid Central School District, a member of the New York State Board of Regents and a founding member and president of the EdOp Fund.)