School fundraisers

[becka]

I attended Department of Defense schools when I was growing up and my DS is still a baby so I am not real familiar with public schools so you may have to excuse my ignorance.

Why are parents/kids being forced to fundraise for public schools? Are these schools not being funded by local taxes? I can sympathize that most schools are probably underfunded but how do the schools force parents to fundraise for the school or force them to pay additional funds? What happens if the school sends all that crap home to the parents and they turn in an empty order form?

 

[nicurn]

here in Va, the state cannot balance the budget, so the gov. is making cuts. Unfortunantly, this trickles down to us and programs get cut, schools get more crowded, etc. I attended a few budget meetings last year and they were ugly. This year promises to be even uglier. There is talk about no new library in our area (the building is done mind you), cutting the new programs they just put in place last year, spanish in elementary school, lacross in the high schools, etc. Class sizes continue to increase, teachers aren't getting raises, etc. It's just ugly. (can you tell that I'm pta prez this year? ) Sorry to rant. maggie

 

[tkd lisa]

We did fundraisers when our kids were in Catholic schools, and it was way too much! Literally, there was a fundraiser every month! And they collected soup labels and boxtops for education.

Our public school has offered fundraisers to offset the prices of field trips. Basically, if they get enough from the fundraisers, then you don't have to pay the fee for the bus and the entry fee into the field trip.

Our Cub Scouts did the popcorn in Sept (GRRR, way too expensive), and we're doing Pizza Cards this month. Once we reach our budget goals, we stop doing fundraisers for them.

Our girl scouts did calendar sales in October, and will do Cookies in January.

I can't remember the exact name of the site, but our school also has a fundraising program where you buy things on the internet, and the school gets a buyback. Basically, you start at the website, then click on the vendors links (stuff like Land's End, JC Penneys, Lillian Vernon, etc.). There's a running total on how many points you earn for your school. Since I internet order lots of things (including almost all of my Christmas), I've gotten lots of $ to the school without spending anything more than I would have normally!

 

[Pembo]

Becka-Here our PTA uses the fundraiser money to pay for lots of "extras". They also paid for the picnic pavilion and new playground equipment and for a new sign in front of our building. Nice extras that could never be in the school budget.

 

[becka]

I can understand them being used to pay for extras. We also would raise money for the band, school clubs, etc. but it was always optional. From some of these posts it sounds like these fundraisers/requests for money are not optional but required.

Someone mentioned that they had to have 10 orders per child. What happens if they don't get the 10 orders? How can the schools require that kids/parents participate?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Becka -

My son's school will restrict access to certain field trips and school clubs unless you fundraise or pay an Activity Fee. I don't think they could ever legally restrict access to the library, computer labs, playgrounds, or other "extra" things for which we have done fundraising.

I agree that the product sales have gotten way out of hand. Most of the time now I simply throw the packet away and don't even try. I don't mind the Box Tops and Campbell soup labels as much. I just collect them in an envelope and send them in once a month.

Our school started a foundation 2 years ago. Hopefully it will take off. Grant Writing can be a tricky business.

 

[browneyes]

Becka, mostly what's considered required is the kids are offered perks if they sell things. Mostly prizes. However, my SO's niece stopped by trying to sell fruit boxes for her school. Her incentive for selling them was if they sold so many, they got a day off from school.