On the day budget cuts were announced, Colleen Makin was hired Monday to serve as fundraising coordinator for Suttons Bay Public Schools.

The salery for the part time position will be covered through donations.

Makin will lead the district in a new approach to fund raising for enrichment programs, which over the years have been supported through numerous activities with no one single, concentrated effort.

A committee that examined the “fund raising” issue earlier this year determined that the Suttons Bay community pays out more than $300,000 annually to efforts to generate funds for the school.

Fundraisers have included the sale of everything from wrapping paper to cookie dough, and oranges to magazines.

Money goes toward the purchase of products, with the school only receiving a portion as revenue. Neither are school supporters about to reap tax benefits from the campaign.

“Most of the people I’ve heard from indicate they’d much rather make a tax-deductible contribution and know all the money is going to the school,” Murray said.

The superintendent said school coffers grow by about $80,000 a year as a result of the fundraisers.

Makin will lead a direct mail appeal with a first-year fund-raising goal of $100,000. Any money collected beyond $100,000 will go to an endowment invested through the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.

Makin was one of five candidates seeking two seats on the Suttons Bay Board of Education in the May election.