Small Vent fundraisers at school !

[ohlas]

Oh here is one that has me.
The info. just came home today.
Malley's chocolate bars. Either buy the box outright and sell them at our leisure or sell individual bars and turn in the money and any remaining chocolate bars at the end of the sale.
Problem - boxes are $45 each!!! We have two kiddos, so that would be $90!!! CRAZY!!!
Sure they have four generous grandparents, DH co-workers that wouldn't mind buying a bar or two, and DD's Chinese class but I'm certainly not going to pluck down $90 in hopes that we can sell 72 chocolate bars. I could really stand to lose 20 pounds and don't want the temptation lying around!
DH is a confessed chocoholic. When he was in school he would buy the box himself and eat a good part of it himself! (Being a guy, he has a great metabolism)
For those who just make checks out, more power to you, but I couldn't fathom plucking down an extra $90 this year and $120 next year.

but it malley's chocolate fellow clevelandier and i bought 5 boxes out right last time my hubby thought i was nuts we went to different city and sold all 5in one saturday afternoon easy..

 

[quentina]

I am very involved in my child's school. I am the PTA President and we have asked the principal numerous times at our PTA meetings exactly how much money was raised and what it will be used for. His response is that he is not prepared to disclosure that information to us. This upcoming meeting will be the third time he has been asked. The reason we need to know is because we wanted to try to match the amount for playground equipment.

As for our PTA every meeting we have a report on what was spent and brought in. The school should let the parents know how much money is raised and what it is used for.

I think the question was confusing....are you saying that the principle is not disclosing district funds? PTO/PTA funds should be seperate. They should be part of a seperate, non-profit account. It is the treasurer's responsibility to disclose amount in account and present a budget each month (I was a treasurer for many years).

PTO funds are public record. They must be disclosed if asked....even to press if they ask.

 

[lovintennessee]

I think the question was confusing....are you saying that the principle is not disclosing district funds? PTO/PTA funds should be seperate. They should be part of a seperate, non-profit account. It is the treasurer's responsibility to disclose amount in account and present a budget each month (I was a treasurer for many years).

PTO funds are public record. They must be disclosed if asked....even to press if they ask.

The principal is not disclosing the amount the school has raised for each fundraiser. It is my understanding that the school must disclose all information about fundraisers as well.

The PTA is seperate from the school.

 

[quentina]

The principal is not disclosing the amount the school has raised for each fundraiser. It is my understanding that the school must disclose all information about fundraisers as well.

The PTA is seperate from the school.

I am so confused......the school does the fundraisers? What does the PTA do? How does the PTA earn money? I have never heard of this...please tell me how this works!

The principle pays for assemblies, fieldtrips, teacher requests etc.....do they get voted on? WHat happens at the PTA meeting???

I need serious education. I was part of the PTO board for 6 years, treasurer for 3. I had no idea that the principle could do this type of stuff.

 

[lovintennessee]

I am so confused......the school does the fundraisers? What does the PTA do? How does the PTA earn money? I have never heard of this...please tell me how this works!

The principle pays for assemblies, fieldtrips, teacher requests etc.....do they get voted on? WHat happens at the PTA meeting???

I need serious education. I was part of the PTO board for 6 years, treasurer for 3. I had no idea that the principle could do this type of stuff.

At our school both the school and PTA do seperate fundraisers. All teacher requests, fieldtrip assistance (for the kids that can't afford to go), and educational assemblies are paid for by the PTA.

Every meeting the PTA tells the members the amount of money the fundraiser has brought in and what the money will be used for. Since the principal is a PTA Board Members several of the parents asked him how much money the school fundraisers made and what the money will be used for. I guess the parents thought since the topic was fundraisers it just made sense to ask even though we are two seperate entities. The principal refuses to tell anyone how much money was made from the fundraisers.

The kicker for the parents I think is that one of the school fundraisers the PTA was going to match what the school made for playground equipment and the principal won't give us that information.

 

[Becky2005]

That is certainly different. I had never heard of the school doing a seperate fundraiser that wasn't done through the PTO/PTA OR one of the kids clubs/booster clubs.

I can't think of a single fundraiser that our school does that any principal would be involved in directly to know the amounts -- all their budget comes from taxes. I do know they have some sort of fund (or did) that the school could match teachers requests if it was an educational expense.

So, for example, the 5th grade teachers all want new encyclopedias on their wish list. The cost is $500 -- the school could possibly kick in $250 but the PTO has to come up with the other $250 OR they could pick up the whole tab.

However, I have no idea where this money comes from as it certainly isn't any fundraiser held at the school. I think it's district-wide budget item via taxes and registration/school fees.

 

[bucket o' butter]

I completely understand the need for fundraisers at school, but sometimes it does get out of hand. Last month my son came running in the house yelling that he was going to get to go on a limo ride. I asked him how and he told me all he had to do was sell 35 items from his fund raiser (candles, air freshener, cookie mix). That is a lot to ask for and to hold a limo ride over his head. We did participate and he sold 25 items, but not 35! He got a $5 Wal-Mart gift card for his effort which he was happy about!

A few years ago, my other son's school had a party for those kids that sold 25 items (nothing was cheaper than $15) in a fundraiser. It was during the school day and they had all this fun stuff set up in the gym for the kids that were able to attend. The other children had to stay in the room and watch a movie. My son was one of the ones who did not attend and he was very bummed out. I talked to the school principal and he didn't see the problem with it. My thought was that IF they were going to have the party, it should have been held after school. These are young children and they don't understand why we can't see that many fundraiser items.

One of the best fundraisers we had was for Little Caesar's Pizza. We don't have Little Caesar's around us anymore and this was so easy to sell! We didn't even have to try on that one. The pizzas came frozen and were not overpriced and tasted great! They sold themselves. If people came up with more fundraisers for practical things, I think they would do better. Especially in this economy. I think selling gift cards for local businesses is also a great fundraiser. It brings money into your school and your city. Our Kroger's and one of the gas stations sponsor fundraisers for gift cards and I am surprised that more of our schools do not do this. People always need groceries and gas. Seems like a no brainer to me!