SUMMIT COUNTY — The newly formed Summit Education Foundation wasted no time in pursuing its mission to support local schools: The local parent-led nonprofit, formed in May, made its first donation last week, totaling $24,000.

Summit School District officials will divide the inaugural contribution among all its schools on a per-student basis, at the organization's request.

Breckenridge resident Chris Renner founded the organization in the spring, when the school district was in the process of cutting the 2010-2011 budget due to declining revenues. Renner said parents and other community members have so far either pledged or donated a total of $40,000, with many donating by monthly subscription.

Money from the recent donation will primarily fund classroom supplies.

“What Chris and the foundation worried about was teachers having to spend money out of their own pockets for supplies in their classrooms,” Summit Schools superintendent Millie Hamner said.

When Renner presented the check last week at Frisco Elementary, teachers were visibly excited at the prospect of new resources for their students. Principals at all the district's schools will soon meet with their staff to determine how best to distribute the funds among classrooms.

“It's extremely helpful — a huge shot in the arm,” Silverthorne Elementary principal Dianna Hulbert said. “I know we could use it to increase teachers' classroom budgets. Field trips would be another thing we could put on the table.”

Silverthorne Elementary will receive about $2,500 of the donated funds. Hulbert had to cut 5 percent of her operating budget for this year, with supplies and field trips taking a big portion of the hit. The new funds will help fill in the gaps, providing everything from markers to books to science-experiment materials.

Summit High School, which serves more students than any other school in the district, will receive the largest sum, at $6,400.

SDN reporter Julie Sutor can be reached at (970) 668-4630 or jsutor@summitdaily.com.