We have a similiar situation but with the opposite principal reaction. At the Feb. meeting Spring Fling was brought up. One of the teachers brought up the fact there was no need for a fling and because of our testing window it would be to much. Several teachers groaned (I hear, I wasn't at that one). My experience is when a teacher talks against something, which rarely happens, then find something else to do. But alas, Spring Fling plans went on, all but the last minute touches were done at the April meeting when I teacher makes the motion to cancel it. Our poor VP which did everything in getting this together wilted. Because of lack of order which has been present at ALL meetings this year the principal came up with the solution of having it 2 days. Teachers usually work the booths. Now the VP is scrounging up vol., the teachers are even more mad because the point was there was too much going on. This has been an experience.

Your dilema could be solved by making it a community project like a Relay for Life type thing. Yes, it is hard work but it sounds like you have a wonderful group, I think you could pull it off.

I'd understand our principal's viewpoint if she told us that. May is just a nightmare. Dealing with something on schedule is one thing; adding yet another event is difficult. And it's not just the staff.

Every time ANYTHING is added in May, most parents mentally lump it in with the "school". Why are they doing ANOTHER activity??? We're never home now with all this end of year school stuff!!

I'm sorry you got caught in the middle, and it would have been nice for her to get back to you sooner. But I definitely know where she's coming from.

[ 05-16-2004, 11:35 AM: Message edited by: JHB ]

I do understand the "Too busy, can't think; If I had to think to breathe, I'd be dead" mode. Unfortunately being on the schedule does matter in that case. I wouldn't take it personally.

Maybe you could still do it on a Saturday. If you let parents walk too that might help participation. As a parent, I would love to join in. I haven't been in a walkathon for decades. Maybe advertising this to the higher level schools and area churches as well would help you.

You probably have this covered, but prizes and refreshments will make a difference on attendance.

Call on other local volunteer groups like the Civil Air Patrol www.cap.gov/ , Key Club, scouts, JayCees, etc. I haven't tried this yet, but Target has a volunteer program that will help with community events. Ask for the Volunteer Leader at your local store.

I would attend something like this even if it's held during the summer. If it's too late for this year, maybe you could do it early next year while it's still warm.

I hope you get to do it. There are so many fun runs around. But for those of us with kids or are not in great shape, it's nice to have a walkathon once in a while.

I need to vent!

The group I'm the pres of is raising money for a playground. Anyone who's a regular to the boards knows my woes concerning this issue! We wanted to have a Walk-a-thon during school hours to raise a substantial amount of funds. YES, I know the principal has authority to do this, but she just put the kabosh on the event. (Never mind that she waited two weeks to get back to us on it, and that the only reason we even got an answer was because our fundraising chair finally sat in the office until she managed to grab her and get a sit-down).

Her reason (mind you she was fine with this a month ago): "too much going on." Asked to elaborate, she didn't. Just, "too much going on." But we can do it this time next year (when she knows we hope to be done with the fundraising). When it was brought up that it'll be just as busy this time next year, she replied, "Yes, but it'll be on the schedule." :confused: When asked what difference that made, she turned around and started talking to the Vice Principal about something else.

We understand that something like Walk-a-Thon is an intrusion. We had scheduled it to have a minimum impact on the school day. We wanted it during the school day because, let's be honest, everyone will participate, thus increasing our revenue. After school, Saturday--we'd get maybe 1/3 the participation. Our school has NEVER had a Walk-a-thon, every other school in our district HAS. Our superintendent is OK with it, as is the BOE. This is the only thing we've done or plan to do during school hours that would take the kids out of the classroom at all--the only other fundraiser we have that includes the kids during school hours is a penny drive.

Are we wrong?

Now we're freaking out, because we had earmarked $15,000 from this event to our community contribution part of the budget, and now we're out this money.

Any suggestions?