Sisters who work for Boise School District pool their merit pay to help community

Published: December 26, 2012 

The Lunstrum clan (L to R): mom Madeline, Sarah, Amy and Nicole at the Idaho Foodbank "Empty Bowls" fundraiser in November.

Photo provided by Russ Stoddard and Social Good Network

Nicole, Amy and Sarah Lunstrum received more than $4,000 combined as part of the state’s pay-for-performance plan, which was repealed in November after being in effect for one year.

The frustrated sisters thought the system was unfair for emphasizing standardized testing and excluding fellow teachers and other school staffers, so they decided to donate their money to the community.

Nicole, a Spanish teacher; Amy, a school psychologist; and Sarah, a speech language pathologist, created their own matching-donation program benefiting nine local nonprofits. “It just didn’t feel right for us to keep the bonuses when deserving colleagues aren’t receiving anything,” said Sarah. A fourth Lunstrum, brother Kris, works as a counselor at a school that did not receive bonuses.

The sisters will match up to $450 in donations to each of these organizations: Fuzzy Paws animal rescue; Idaho Horse Rescue; Idaho Home Partnership Foundation; Hays Home; Learning Lab; Suicide Prevention Hotline; Girls on the Run; Terry Reilly Health Services Zero Pay Fund; and Romeo’s Fund for veterinary care at the Canyon County Animal Shelter.

Contact your chosen organizations directly or visit the Social Good Network blog to donate online.

Anna Webb: 377-6431

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