In February, the Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Lions Club donated $500 to the Cornville-based Low Income Student Aid nonprofit, which was used to pay down the outstanding cafeteria bills for 11 students at West Sedona School with the greatest amount of debt.
“We’re just always so grateful for the contributions of the community, and the way in which our community kind of circles around our teachers, our families, our students,” outgoing WSS Principal Elizabeth Tavasci said. “They find all these different, unique needs. There’s community groups that donate money to do something like this to clear out some lunch debt or bring in materials or provide funds for special projects or, you know, even just services, time and energy and volunteerism, so we’re just really grateful for the community.”
Alisa Stieg will be the new WSS principal following approval by the Sedona-Oak Creek School District Governing Board on May 7 and took over the role on July 1.
“I am the mother of three beautiful children and three fur babies and can’t wait to return to Arizona, particularly Sedona, where I spent every summer of my childhood on family vacations,” Stieg wrote in an introductory letter. “To be in such a place of beauty is truly a gift I am so grateful to embrace. Thank you for the opportunity to serve your community.”
A total of $878 in student cafeteria debt remains outstanding at WSS, with another $3,572 at Sedona Red Rock High School, according to SOCSD Superintendent Tom Swaninger.
“All students receive their chosen meal regardless of the ability to pay,” Swaninger said.
The donation also coincided with LISA’s expansion to West Sedona School in February to provide service and direct funding of up to $300 to students in need of financial assistance.
“LISA came to us in late fall last year, and designated us as their next school that they wanted to add to their repertoire and it’s their first school outside of the Cottonwood School District, which was pretty cool,” Tavasci said. “They have come in and they’ve provided families with hygiene materials, clothing, shoes. They helped to fund Valentine’s grams for every student on campus. They provided movie tickets for a PTA-sponsored move night … They’ve just really contributed in all sorts of different ways. And the families have the agency of advocating for themselves and their children of what they need. So it just depends on what that family needs.”
On June 7, LISA received the first of two $8,000 grants from the Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County. The grant will be allocated to LISA’s Greatest Need Fund, which is used to fill direct aid requests as they are received from area working-class families.
“We were overjoyed with this as well as anything anybody can do to help our donor dollars and serve more students. We are greatly appreciative of it,” LISA founder Eric Wyles said.
The Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Lions Club is actively recruiting new members. Interested residents should contact club president Effie Roszko-Tagliarini at scubanurse921@gmail.com or (707) 688-2008.
