By By Thomas Tingle
Record Managing Editor
What does Madison County's three public school systems and the Huntsville Utilities have in common?
If you sign up and round up your next Huntsville Utilities bill to the next dollar, you will be helping teachers and students in the area
The Schools Foundation, in cooperation with Huntsville Utilities has launched its new "Sign Up and Round Up" program this week with all the proceeds going to the foundation for distribution in the Huntsville City School System, Madison County School System and Madison City Schools. The money will be used for teacher training and technology with the focus to improve student achievement.
"It's simply the coins that end up on your bureau dresser or in the bottom of your purse," said Woody Sanderson, president of the foundation. "It's pocket change. Huntsville Utilities will collect and count the coins so they may be invested for our children and teachers."
"We are delighted to partner with the foundation to make this possible through our on-line services or the Sign Up card," said Bill Yell, director for communications at Huntsville Utilities. "Huntsville Utilities has 135,000 customers."
All three superintendents said they are in full support of the program.
"We want 100 percent participation in the campaign. 99.5 percent won't do," said Madison City Schools Superintendet Dr. Henry Clark.
" I encourage everyone to sign up. For less than $1 a month, everyone can contribute," said Huntsville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ann Roy. "This is a wonderful way to help our students."
"It's cooperative efforts like this that serve our students daily and make Madison County a better place to educate and live," said Madison County Schools Superintendent Ray Swaim.
To sign up for the program, you can do so on the web.
"You can find the Sign Up to Round Up icon by going to www.theschoolsfoundation.org," Sanderson said. "You will be directed to the Huntsville Utilities Web site at www.hsvutil.org. Then, you can fill out the form on the site or complete an enrollment card. The enrollment cards will be distributed to more than 50,000 students and faculty members in the three school systems."