Bay Laurel Auction Raises $41K

A online auction to benefit raised a little more than $41,000, which will be earmarked for various resources at the school as well as the hiring of a new counselor.

The auction ran for a week, ending last Thursday, and had an initial goal of generating $25,000, said Principal Susan Wachtel.

"We are very grateful to all the parents who worked on the auction, donated items, bid on items, and spread the word to their families and friends," she said.

The additional $16,000 raised by the auction will go toward hiring a new part-time counselor for the 2012-13 school year, Wachtel said. The counselor would work about six hours a week and focus on spending time with emotionally distressed students, she said.

Wachtel said that kind of service was eliminated at the school a few years ago due to budget cuts and it would be very beneficial to have it back for young students.