As Primary Funding Disappears, Pacifica Middle School Band Programs in Jeopardy

The Rob Schneider Music Foundation will no longer be able to financially support Pacifica middle school music programs next year. The immediate future of sixth- through eighth-grade band is on thin ice.

The sudden absence of next year's funding has sent the Pacifica School District (PSD), the foundation itself (RSMF)--which was founded by the famous comedian and run by his family--and band kids’ parents searching for ways to preserve Pacifica’s tradition of music in its schools.

RSMF has provided the majority of the funding, about $160,000 annually, to these programs by paying for two instructors’ salaries and benefits. Rob Schneider himself provided about 70 percent of that money, said John Bentley, the current coordinator at RSMF.

Bentley said that Schneider told the foundation he was withdrawing his support on Monday.

“Rob has just reviewed his financial situation, and it is really very difficult to fund the foundation and be responsible because of all the cutbacks in Hollywood and the money he is making,” Bentley said.

Schneider, as well as the foundation, still want to play a supportive role in middle school band programs in the future, just at a much diminished level for now, he added. 

The school district announced publicly Rob’s decision yesterday. Immediately, Saving Pacifica Schools, a Facebook page devoted to education issues of the city, fed it to its fans via a wall post:

“The loss of funding to our PSD music program from the Rob Schneider foundation is a real blow to a well rounded education for our students,” the post read. “I thank them for all they have done to date, it has been a wonderful blessing. We should not have to outsource funding of essential educational programs in the first place.”

One commenter on the post said she was “saddened”, another speculated whether she should start home schooling, and another responded in disbelief.

Students who would be entering a band program at a Pacifica middle school (who are likely to go onto a high school music program), those students who are in a program and their families were told yesterday to prepare for the possibility of no band next year, said Eileen Manning-Villar, president of the district’s governing board. At some Pacifica middle schools, band is the only elective class in the sixth grade.

Wendy Tukloff, superintendant of PSD, has been instructed by its governing board to review the district’s finances to see if it can fund music programs itself.

Bentley said he had been told by the district that it could likely fund the programs through next year, but Tukloff said today “I wouldn’t go clear to that level and yet, of course, we’re looking to see what we can do for our music program.”

The loss of Schneider’s support wasn’t the only factor leading to the depletion of RSMF’s reserves, said Bentley. Raising money has been difficult over the least year two, evidenced by the recent, seemingly disappointing, .

When he notified RSMF of his decision, Schneider told the foundation to reestablish itself separate from the family and diversify its funding sources. That process has just begun, and Bentley is looking at a variety of options.

Pacifica middle schoolers are currently selling raffle tickets for a new Nissan Cube that the Schneiders donated to the foundation, he said. Part of the proceeds from the raffle will go directly to band programs and part will go to the foundation. Bentley said sales are slow right now, however.

He also needs grant writers to help him diversify and expand RSMF’s money sources. Anyone who is interested in helping him with grant writing, selling raffle tickets or fundraising generally should email him at johndbentley@yahoo.com.

Two informational meetings will be held for parents and the community on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at and Thursday, Feb. 17 at . Parents are being asked to bring their ideas for the future of middle school music programs.