BRISTOL — A group of residents has formed a nonprofit foundation that aims to raise money to supplement the budget of the local school system.

The Kickemuit Education Foundation, named for the river that runs through Bristol and Warren, was formed after a forum last March in which more than 100 Bristol residents spent part of a weekend together discussing issues vital to the community’s success. The most pressing matter identified at the event, which was called Voices for Bristol’s Future, was improving the regional school system the town shares with Warren.

While neighboring communities like Barrington or Portsmouth have long had booster clubs or other independent fundraising groups, the Bristol Warren Regional School District hasn’t had anything similar. The Kickemuit Education Foundation’s goal is to fill that gap.

“Hopefully we can use the money we raise to enhance classroom programs,” Suzanne Cohn, a member of the foundation’s board of directors, said in an interview.

The group, said Cohn, modeled itself after the Barrington Education Foundation, which was created in 1992 and annually raises tens of thousands of dollars for that town’s schools.

The Kickemuit Education Foundation will start its fundraising efforts Nov. 3 with a “Walk for Educational Excellence” in Colt State Park.

Donations will go toward grants for teachers to create innovative programs for their students that aren’t funded through the district’s operating budget. The grants will vary from year to year, but may go to improving student access to technology, fostering an understanding of local history, broadening vocational training opportunities, and promoting environmental stewardship.

The creation of the foundation comes as communities throughout the state face tightening restrictions on how much they can raise property taxes to support public schools and municipal services. Under a law passed by the legislature, communities were able to raise the tax levy by only 5.25 percent this year, compared to 5.5 percent in other years. Next year, the cap will be reduced to 5 percent.

In the Bristol Warren district, that means the approved budget for the current fiscal year is $400,000 less than what schools officials requested.

It’s against this backdrop that the Kickemuit Education Foundation was established.

“As taxpayers and supporters of public education, we recognize that our public schools require help from the community to create opportunities for students that are outside the scope of existing school budgets,” Kara Kelly Milner, chairwoman of the foundation, said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the community to make these opportunities a reality.”

Cohn said the group will likely hold two major fundraisers a year, one in the fall and another in the spring.

“It’s the first year, and we may not make a lot of money,” she said. “We think that will improve.”

The Nov. 3 fundraising walk starts at 9 a.m. in Colt State Park. Walkers must register at the pavilion at the Town Beach and will have a choice to walk either 1 mile or about 3 miles. Registration starts at 8 a.m.

Adult walkers must pay $20 and students $10. There is a $40 maximum per family. For children under five, the walk is free.

To pre-register for the walk, visit www.kickemuiteducationfoundation.org. Anyone who pre-registers by today is guaranteed a free T-shirt.

The Web site will have up-to-date information on all special events and details on applying for grants from the foundation. People can also make contributions to the foundation through the site.

akuffner@projo.com