Field trips...kids that can't afford

[InstImpres]

Not to hijack the OP thread-but 1 year I would just love an itemized list of expenses for the year, for fundraising. I try to keep track of it myseld from year to year-but it always seems there are new ones added.

I am surprised you don't get something to work from. While we don't itemize it for parents (as different people spend differently) there are usually ways to calculate. If you are a PTA school you are required to present your budget at a general meeting. Near me most schools do it at Back to School Night but some do it late Spring the year before. You should see every fundraiser listed on an income line. Also, in September we provide a calendar for the whole year that would list these items. While an occasional extra item may get approved mid-year, they are usually not big fundraisers. The only exception to that is the graduating class fundraiser. While you don't know what it is going to be from year to year (it is up to the committee) we know it is coming

 

[Sheaboys]

Our PTO funds those that have a hardship. They should look into that.

 

[canwegosoon]

I am surprised you don't get something to work from. While we don't itemize it for parents (as different people spend differently) there are usually ways to calculate. If you are a PTA school you are required to present your budget at a general meeting. Near me most schools do it at Back to School Night but some do it late Spring the year before. You should see every fundraiser listed on an income line. Also, in September we provide a calendar for the whole year that would list these items. While an occasional extra item may get approved mid-year, they are usually not big fundraisers. The only exception to that is the graduating class fundraiser. While you don't know what it is going to be from year to year (it is up to the committee) we know it is coming

Yes I would love this- I would have to attend a PTA meeting to hear the upcoming fundraisers(and they only work like 3 months at a time).I do roughly know almost every fundraiser-but I am sure there are new moms(and moms like me that like the information in front of them). BTW mine is not a public school

 

[Donnask8pro]

I am a Treasurer of our Elem PTA. We do set aside funds for these cases. The principal has contaced me 3 times this year to give him checks for these kids.

We also have a complete summary of where PTA funds are dispersed during the school year.

 

[EthansMom]

OP, I agree with the other posters. I would call the PTO President and ask if there is any fund to help children whose families can't afford the field trip. Our PTO funds most of our school's field trips. We also have a discretionary fund that is used to buy lunch, winter boots, etc.. for students who can't afford them.

To those posters who want to know where the money is spent: Ask your PTO Treasurer for a copy of the Treasurer's Report and PTO Budget. If your PTO is set up as a charitable organization, as ours is, the documents are required to be given to anyone who asks for a copy. I'm the Treasurer for our PTO... trust me, keeping those records up-to-date and accurate is no picnic. Also, the money spent by the PTO has to be voted on at a PTO meeting... so if you don't agree with the way the PTO is spending the money, attend the meetings and voice your opinion.

For our PTO, some of the very time-consuming fundraisers actually bring in VERY little money. Other fundraisers do very well. Although I don't always agree with EVERY single item that our PTO votes to fund, our PTO fully funds EVERY enrichment program (puppet shows, traveling museums, etc..) and funds most all of the field trips. We also have bought all school supplies for the last few years and give a stipend to each teacher for supplies/expenses.

 

[2Kds2K9]

To the question of where the PTA/O funds are going, I can only suggest that everyone become more involved with their schools' organization by attending meetings and ASKING questions.

Our former PTA President is currently awaiting sentencing for two, yes, two felony counts of embezzelment. She stole $180K, yes, that thousand, over a 6 year period. (she is facing 2-20 years, per count, in a state penetentiary) How did this happen? Very easily, apathy! People did not attend meetings, people did not ask questions of exactly how much money was made and exactly where it was going. (her pocket) And, being a very generous community, when the alarm was sounded that more money was needed, more wallets opened up and money was donated. When fund raisers were reported at meetings, the comment was typically, "We did better than expected." Or, "We did better than last year." Or even, "We didn't do as well, we need to come up with another fund raiser." Yes, per PTA guidlines, we did get a financial statement at the beginning of the year. That was the only time one was handed out.

We've since switched over to a PTO. Her doing to cover her tracks. It's actually been good since as a PTO, we are not responsible for the former PTA's debts. (I discovered one of the many debts and began to ask questions. Was one of many factors that led to this discovery.)

My DD is going on the same field trip my DS did last year. Last year I paid $70 each for him AND my DH. This year, I'm paying only $32 for her and nothing for my DH. Seems we are now getting a truer picture of all the funds raised for field trips.

My suggestions. Get involved! Attend meetings and ask questions. Yes, it's hard to ask tough questions of neighbors and friends, but you never know who is taking from the "cookie jar". This woman was a very well respected person in our community. Very involved and very dedicated. Also, had very sticky fingers.

Also, the principal knows who the kids are that are financially strapped. If needed, they should contact the PTA/O to make sure funds are available to cover their expenses.

Have a good one!
Leigh

 

[Skatermom23]

Whether you use your seat on the bus is irrelevant, I never used mine either when I chaperoned,

Isn't the point of a chaperone to be on the bus with the kids?

Our band kids are going on a trip this month and the cost is $500 per student. We were told that no student that wants to go will be excluded but the parents had to contact the band director and show that they couldn't afford the cost. The money would be taken out of our booster fund which means less money to spend on new instruments. So far no one has choosen to ask for the help. I can see where it would be uncomfortable to prove the need. There are many kids who are not going and they all have reasonable excuses, but it does make you wonder.

 

[stm61]

our district is at least 50% free/reduced lunch, my dd's elementary school is about 77% and Title I. They don't charge for field trips, but they never go very far either. They stay within the county mostly because the district cannot afford the gas to go any farther or to rent charter buses. What bugs me is the activities they have at the school. Last week the rock mining show came to school for 3rd grade. It's a trailer that is set up with sand, running water, and the kids take a pan and "mine" for rocks/minerals/etc. The cost was $8. If they didn't have the money they didn't participate. There were a few in one dd's class that didn't have the money and got to watch. Other dd's class only 1 boy did not have the money, she said he was sitting there with his head down on his desk because he knew he was going to get left out. At the last min. someone paid for him. I asked the teacher if there was any school funding for the kids who couldn't bring in the money and she said no. The school and PTO just don't have the funds to cover it, if it's just one child the teacher will usually pay if she can, but if it's several kids they're just out of luck. I have a neighbor with 4 kids, 2 in elementary. They didn't even have funds to buy them anything for Christmas, so every class party she keeps the younger 2 home because they can't afford to send anything in.

 

[macaronigal]

I don't want to seem like a scrooge, but why does a school Christmas (or Holiday Season) party have to include a gift exchange? Why can't kids just enjoy some time at school with classmates in a party atmosphere....no presents, maybe a potluck or something?
Everyone is so focused on "stuff" nowadays and it's sick.
Maybe a few months before a holiday kids could be encouraged to raise money for a charity and at the party they could share a story of what they did to raise money or what the money would be used for or how they gave of their time to help someone out.
Let's make it about something other than money.

And back in my day field trips were educational in nature.....how is a trip to Six Flags related at all to school and learning?!
Maybe a field trip could be to a local business to see how things work, to the park to help clean up garbage, to the bank to see how money is handled...lots of parents seem to need help with that one.

Sorry to rant but I think people become so accustomed to these Christmas party gift exchanges and expensive field trips that they lose sight of the fact that they are superfluous.

 

[HsvTeacher]

Maybe a few months before a holiday kids could be encouraged to raise money for a charity and at the party they could share a story of what they did to raise money or what the money would be used for or how they gave of their time to help someone out.
Let's make it about something other than money.

My second graders, the sweet little angels they are, pick a service project each year instead of having a gift exchange. This year, they collected pet food and treats, and we took them to the local animal shelter. Last year, the kids decided to collect gloves, hats, and scarves, and we donated them to a local shelter. Some of the older grades make gift bags to take to nursing homes. Kids love to do things like that, if they are given the opportunity.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

Our children go on field trips, but there are just not that extravagant nor costly. My DS is going to an alpaca farm next Friday; the only cost is the school's sack lunch ($1.15). My DD has gone to a bank, the local grocery store, local State Parks, etc. These aren't huge field trips compared with going to Epcot or a city museum, but my kids love them and they don't cost parents anything. The school pays for the gas for the buses. It's ridiculous to hear of field trips costing $25+. That just wouldn't fly where we live; there are plenty of field trip possibilities that would cost a fraction of the cost.

 

[macaronigal]

Hvs Teacher - bravo to you
That brought tears to my eyes, you are right - kids love to do things like that and often they only need a little guidance to show them ways to give of themselves.

We don't have pets but I always order coupons online for free bags of dog and cat food or $4 off, whatever - and everytime I go grocery shopping I pick up what I can and leave at the exit where the local SPCA has set a bin for donations. I also put extra food (need to buy 3 of something to get a lower price but I only need 1) in the food hamper bin at the exit of the store.

Maybe it's a bit selfish, but it makes me feel good to do it - who knows maybe someone has walked by those bins a zillion times and seeing me make a donation will get them to do the same?

This is one of my favorite quotes:
Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best. Bob Talbot

for me that says it all.

 

[luvdzny]

First of all, you are wonderful for helping this child out!!!! When my kids were in school there was a fund for kids that could not afford field trips etc. I am not sure where the money came from but it sounds like your school should have some extra funds somewhere!

 

[daisax]

And back in my day field trips were educational in nature.....how is a trip to Six Flags related at all to school and learning?!

Especially if the same schools are sending home threatening truancy letters to parents who keep the child out of school an extra day tacked onto school vacation or long weekend for a Disney trip!

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

My goodness before this thread I'd never heard of anyone from a public school having to pay for a regular field trip! Back when I went to school, we took multiple field trips every year in elementary. Most of them were to the wellness center... haha. But we also went to the state's natural history museum, to see plays, to a living history farm, to a regular farm, the game preserve, etc. In Jr high we didn't go on any more field trips. Nor did we in high school. Some activities would go places and those would be at a cost, but we could also fundraise the cost.

PTA paid for each elementary class's field trips. My district had 2 elementaries, 1 JH, 1 HS. We were 70% below the poverty line. I helped plan our 5th grade field trip to the museum. We used the school buses to travel - I've never seen a charter bus on a field trip??? Man, the things I've learned on this thread! We would all also bring a packed lunch.

The only field trip I remember paying for was my HS honors bio class's trip to the Philly zoo. It was only the cost of admission, which was a group rate (about $10). If you couldn't afford it, my teacher paid it out of her own pocket.

I also paid for a band trip to Disney, but those were not required. We could also fund raise to pay for the trip. They went every 4 years (you could be in band for 5 years) and you could fundraise up until the trip.

 

[gottaluvdis]

Honestly, I'd call the school and ask them. They should have something in place to help out these children that can't afford these trips.
i know that our middle school does, they have a trip, Natures Classroom and there is a girl my daughter is friends with that can't come up with the 225.00 for the trip and they are giving her a "scholarship' so that she can attend.

With our grade school, they always send home a note saying if you can't afford it to let the teacher know and they'll work something out.

Please let us know if you find anything out. That's very sad for that child.

My DD11 is going to Nature's Classroom in the fall for 6th grade camp. The price is $300! We had to pay 1/2 of it in March, and the other 1/2 is due in Sept. I work with a couple of people who have kids in the same grade, same school and are having a hard time coming up with the money. The school has fundraisers and other means to help those who cannot afford to go - no one is turned away, especially since the entire 6th grade participates. I'd ask about this at your school as well.

 

[spima3]

Interesting thread. Friends and I were just discussing this. Seems the 5th grade field trip, to an amusement park, isn't funded this year. The kids are going to have to contribute about $10 towards it. As many of the grade schools have over 90% low income families, I don't know what they are going to do for the kids who can't afford it. The PTA already pays for the school buses, all field trips, and enrichment programs for the schools. They have a school uniform program for the kids who can't afford them, and at the Xmas party this year, the kids were given school supplies for gifts. With many poor immigrants coming in and more and more money going to fund the above programs, they simply don't have the cash any longer.
On top of that, many of those in the PTA are moving on to middle school and there is no one to take over for the elementary schools PTA. I see the day coming when there will not be any programs, events, or field trips for the kids.
Glad my kids are aging out of elementary, but it is sad for those who aren't.

 

[Ashley Kees]

Holy Shamoley! When I was in elementary school (in the 80's, mind you) field trips were free, and the only cost we had was a few dollars for lunch at the site, but we usually just brought a sack lunch anyway! Charter bus??? Why on earth are they getting charter busses for a field trip? Aren't there school busses anymore? And the only kids who wern't allowed to go were the unlucky few who forgot their permission slips! My mom would have pulled us out of a school that charged $30 for a field trip!! Even in high school, I went on an orchestra trip to Corpus Christi every year, and we stayed in a condo for 4 nights, and it only cost about $400, and we had 5 separate fundraisers for that.

And charging for class parties???
Are you freaking kidding me??? What happened to everyone bring a snack and lets put the desks in the middle of the room to make a fort? Lets just, listen to Christmas music or whatever and not learn anything today? Why on God's green Earth would someone make a child PAY to be in an activity in a classroom they are REQUIRED to be in???

I could say so much more, but I think my head will explode in a moment if I don't go lay down. Thank the lord we decided to homeschool!!!

 

[tazdev3225]

I was on the PTA at my kids elementary and middle schools. The fund raisers we had were to ensure that every classroom had enough text books, supplies, etc. We got requests every month from the teachers. The class trips all cost us money out of pocket. The cost was calculated on the expectation that every child went on them. These covered the cost of the bus rental and admission to where the trip was. The only trip that cost big money was the "graduation" trip. The graduating class held fundraisers through the year to make sure the cost was as minimal as possible. I know one year we had a couple of kids that didn't have the funds and our PTA helped out. The teachers were the ones that helped to ID the kids in need and acted as the liason. We tried to make sure no one ever missed for need.
The school holds smaller fund raisers, such as $1 to wear whatever you want. These are for charities not the school.

 

[spima3]

Holy Shamoley! When I was in elementary school (in the 80's, mind you) field trips were free, and the only cost we had was a few dollars for lunch at the site, but we usually just brought a sack lunch anyway! Charter bus??? Why on earth are they getting charter busses for a field trip? Aren't there school busses anymore?

In our district, the trip has to be within a certain radius in order to use the school buses. So anything outside that radius requires a charter bus.
We have a lots of $1 and $2 fund raisers because that is all a lot of the kids around her can afford. The PTA is very conscious of the poor students. The money raised is how they pay for the extras. Over 80% of the school budgets go for salaries, both admin and teachers (and they are all extremely well paid), there is very little left over for maintaining the schools and supplies. With an ever increasing low income/poor majority, the PTA can no longer pick up the short fall.