Pala donates to Bonsall Union School District

PALA — On September 8 the Pala Band of Mission Indians announced that they have given $140,000 to the Bonsall Union School District for the 2008-2009 school year.

The money will be used to pay for an assistant principal, bus driver and counselor positions, as well as implement the Compass Learning/MAP Testing curriculum and a Thin Client Network at Vivian Banks Charter School in Bonsall. These programs will allow students to access schoolwork from any Internet location and improve self-assessment of their learning.

“We are pleased to be a conduit in creating a greater learning environment for the students at the Bonsall School District, and especially the Vivian Banks Charter School,” said Pala Band Tribal Chairman Robert Smith. “The new programs that will be implemented are another avenue to ensuring the students receive the best educational opportunities available, something our tribe does not take for granted.”

The Pala Tribe previously donated $125,000 for the 2007-2008 school year to the Bonsall School District, which was used to pay for an assistant principal and a counselor position at Norman L. Sullivan Middle School.

“The Bonsall Unified School District is grateful for the generous support of the Pala Tribe,” said Bonsall Unified Superintendent Justin Cunningham. “Considering this year’s reduction in school funding, we cannot thank the Pala Tribe enough for their continued commitment.”

The Pala Band of Mission Indians consists of 1,117 members with 650 living on the reservation along the Palomar Mountain range approximately 30 miles northeast of San Diego on Interstate 15.