plainfieldschool - your solution might lie in your question - if your BOE prohibits this activity, (and if you are 501c3 shawn's input is applicable , big NO NO), then maybe all you need to do is address the matter to your supt and she can address the district legal counsel and or the BOE and handle the matter.
i would think they would want to follow the rules and inform the PTO accoridingly if something is being done not as it should.
if your pto is not 501c3, you can still address those same higher channels to get an answer to your question. but in that instance, i would start with the principal (if your PTO is not 501c3).
Wouldnt the advertisements sent home have to be posted as "Thanks to our sponsors" or "Please patronize these fine sponsors"?
Sending PTO/PTAer's (they own the business)memebers flyers home would be in direct violation of- as a non profit "This corporation is a nonprofit PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION and is not organized for the private gain of any person. The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes and no part of the net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer or member thereof or to the benefit of any private person."
Unless you were allowing everyone at the school to send home flyers, I would have a big problem with this.
The website and newsletter ads would be fine as long as rates were the same for all regardless of affiliation (We even sell them for our Yearbook)
<font size=""1""><font color="#"black"">Liberalism is not an affilation its a curable disease. </font></font><br /><br><font color="#"gray"">~Wisdom of Shawnshuefus</font><br /><br><font color="#"blue""><font size=""1"">The punishment which the wise suffer, who refuse to take part in government, is...
Back to the original posting....maybe the flyer was intended as a courtesy to those in your parent community who have home-based businesses. Not sure what would be in that for the PTO, but it might have been a slightly mis-guided attempt at building community spirit. We were approached a couple of years ago by a parent who wanted the PTO to set up a "business fair" for local (parent-owned) businesses. The participants would pay a registration fee to the PTO. We didn't pursue it - too many issues to resolve for little return. For example, do you allow ALL the Mary Kay reps, or only the first to register? etc...
About a year ago, our principal got the OK from his boss to start selling advertising in the school's weekly newsletter. He says the revenue pays allows us to keep a weekly paper newsletter. There's always 2-3 pages of advertising.
One of our families owns a local McDonald's and does a school family nights for ours, and other schools in the area. It's a fun night when the teachers help behind the counter and the principal cleans off tables. The owners give a portion of the counter and drive-thru revenue for the 2-hour time period. It's not a huge money-maker for us ($350), but it's a fun event early in our school year and doesn't require any major planning. Never thought of it as free advertising - don't think McDonald's needs it!
do any of you host McD's/wendy's/BK/TB/KFC evenings, where a percent of proceeds purchased from that restaurant (or a local slow food restaurant) on a specific evening per week go to the school? we get fliers home with these blurbs. seems it is also doubles as free advertising for the business. do any of your PTOs do this sort of fundraising or is it prohibited by the admin?
We are embarking on advertising on our website, on a page specifically for ads. This does not impart any burden on those who do not wish to see it.
However, sending home papers that are advertising services that are for the benefit of the children does happen in our school. Things like the YMCA, some summer programs, and others that may or may not be non-profit. I wonder a bit as to the reason these are permitted.
However, something that was just advertising, not child related and not a PTO fund-raiser would definitely raise flags with me. On the other hand, it could be a way for the PTO/School to earn some extra funds. The only thing is, there should be some rules and applied to all consistently.
You could also have an advertising brochure/pamphlet, sent home, say once a month, that would include all advertising flyers etc, raise some money, and not be inappropriate.
