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Amy and Sarah Lunstrum received more than $4,000 combined as part of the state’s pay-for-performance plan, which was repealed in November after being in effect for one year.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