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Charter school stayin’ alive

Cassie Pence

AVON – For those who need an excuse to wear those vintage polyester bell bottoms – your time has come.On Saturday, the Jonny Mogambo Band, Tony Gulizia, Tom Kirk, Scott Stoughton and Rodney Coquia of Sucker, and A Good Times DJ will play a disco-funk dance party at The Rumpus Room in Edwards. Seventies’ costumes are encouraged, and there is a $500 cash prize for best dressed. The concert is a fundraiser for the Stone Creek Elementary in Avon.”There’s going to be a little something for everyone,” Mogambo said, who sings and plays guitar. “It’s going to be one big P-funk party, with everyone on stage at one point having a big jam session.”Mogambo’s son, Kingston, attends the Stone Creek Elementary. Mogambo serves on the fundraising board. Stone Creek is a K-8 charter school based on the Core Knowledge curriculum, a style based on building foundations of learning grade by grade with a focus on problem solving. It’s a public school, funded solely by the state and private donations, but it’s not supported or part of the Eagle County School district, making fundraisers, Mogambo said, extremely important to the school’s success. Currently, Mogambo said, there is 150 kids on a waiting list for next year.”At Stone Creek, we did have a rough start,” Mogambo said, referring to a large debt the school owed for financial missteps in the beginning. “The school is viable now. We’ve managed to raise some good funds, the town has extended the lease three years and have agreed to work with us on a permanent spot.” The school is currently located on Yoder Avenue, east of The Home Depot.Tickets for the disco-funk party are $75, tax deductible, and include beer and wine tickets, light appetizers and the all-star music. Larger donations are of course accepted. In addition to the $500 first prize for best disco costume, there will be door prizes donated by local restaurants and businesses.Mogambo stresses the party is for everyone, 21 and older, regardless if you are a parent or not. It’s more about supporting the Vail Valley community, he said.”I believe if we can’t support and educate the children to be our future writers, musicians, realtors, doctors and lawyers, than we failed,” Mogambo said. “Education is more important than anything right now.”Arts and Entertainment Editor Cassie Pence can be reached at 748-2938, or cpence@vaildaily.com.


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