ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — For the first time, the education foundations of Baldwin County met together on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The foundations are designed to as the Central Baldwin Education Foundation says on its Web site, is to “…enhance, enrich and support the educational experience of all public school students in the Central Baldwin area by providing support and the resources to supplement educational programs and activities.”

However, says Denise D’Olivera, the executive director of the SEEDS Foundation (Supporting Education Enrichment in Daphne Schools) the fiscal crisis the state has found itself in has lead to serious budget cuts for county schools.

The Baldwin County Public School Board of Education had to slash millions from this school year’s budget and faces more cuts because of proration, a method where the state takes back money already allocated to a project because revenues don’t meet expectations.

That has meant that the money the local Education Foundations raises is more important than ever.

“This is the first-every countywide meeting of the seven education foundations that have grown up in the last 12 to 13 years,” said D’Olivera. She explained that each group had sprung up to answer a specific need in the local school system. For example the Spanish Fort group began to provide items for the new then-new high school and expanded its mission form there. There are now seven Education Foundations in the county, one for each “feeder pattern” to a high school.

“Every child in Baldwin County is served” by an educational foundation, D’Olivera said. “Every child receives the benefits of an emerging grassroots organization.”

D’Olivera stressed that each foundation would remain separate, focusing on the needs of schools in its area, but it has become apparent to some that the foundations needed to also look at the needs of the whole county.

“We thought it was important to share information,” said D’Olivera. “Over the past few years, we have only met at the request of the school system. We may have a greater impact if we collaborate.”

One of the goals, D’Olivera added was to get the school district to do a “broad” search to replace Superintendent of Schools Faron Hollinger when he retires.

“We met in October with (State Board of Education member) Randy McKinney to get the state perspective on the funding crisis,” said D’Olivera. “We’re learning more about each other.”

“It’s good to know more about the other boards,” said Steven Williams, a member of the Central Baldwin Education Foundation. “We are getting new ideas.”