The Newtown Education Foundation (NEF) has scheduled an open public forum for Monday, October 5, from 7 pm to 8 pm at Reed Intermediate School for the entire community.

According to a press release from the NEF, work is continuing to form the foundation, and the next step is community engagement.

The NEF was co-founded by Kristen Bonacci, Casey Ragan, and Aaron Carlson. According to the release, work and efforts on the foundation have included research, a meeting with Newtown educators and Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi Jr, a meeting with community members, which was held to gauge community interest, and generating ideas from within the district and community.

At the public forum meeting, the foundation is seeking interested community leaders to play various roles, including event coordinators, fundraising organizers, volunteers with specialized skill sets, general support, and people to be executive board members.

According to the foundation, the NEF will work in partnership with Newtown Public Schools, and Dr Erardi will play a lead role.

“I am very excited about the future of the Newtown Education Foundation as it parallels the mission of the Newtown Public Schools to ‘inspire each student to excel’ while partnering with the community,” said Dr Erardi.

The mission of the NEF is to enrich the learning experience for students by promoting innovation and creativity through collaboration with the community, according to the foundation.

NEF is expecting to file as a nonprofit, tax-qualified corporation organized to promote and support innovative education programs for the benefit of students in the Newtown Public School system, according to the release.