Our middle school PTO sometimes helps out student clubs and would consider helping with a startup. It's not "huge" money, but $50-$300. Each request is examined on a case-by-case basis.
Supporting a club not only assists the small number of kids that may be in that group, but also supports the school. Having a robust set of after-school clubs for the kids to choose makes their educational experience better and provides additional avenues for parent involvement.
However, we probably wouldn't take on a central role in coordinating joint fundraisers or central fundraising. There are just too many differing needs, deadlines, and personalities involved. As a parent, I cringe at all the uncoordinated fundraising that takes place. But I also have to admit such fundraising mirrors real life and teaches the kids some good lessons. They have to help find a way to make money in a competetive situation. And if they don't make enough money, they have to re-adjust their plans.
(Note, I may be singing a different tune after the slew of NEW fundraising efforts hits next year!)
Update - I just found out that "due to budget contstraints" the school will be taking back the dances next year. They need the revenue from the ticket sales, so clubs will no longer be able to sponsor dances.
It's unfortunate, because that means the clubs will have to resort to other fundraisers.
Note - clubs can still sponsor aspects of the dance such as concession stands, pictures, selling trinkets. But the big money maker - admission - will revert back to the school.
I absolutely understand about multiple fundraisers, and even in my most elaborate of educational fantasies wouldn't be able to touch that! [img]tongue.gif[/img] To be honest, I really don't have a problem with fundraisers. I usually get hit up quite a bit because my friends all have at lest three kids in school. As long as the stuff isn't junk, I'm happy to help out, though I wish the option to just give them money was made available. You can only buy so much cheesecake.
My question is more focused getting the clubs etcetera started I guess. I really like the student council idea. I think the more the kids do for themselves the better we prepare them for the real world. But, our school has no student council. Nor does our MS have clubs, music or art groups, the entire school (K-8) has no school paper and there's only one teacher who does ANYTHING with the kids for extracurricular events. When I asked our principal why this was, she replied that it was because usually such groups/clubs have stipends associated with them and....well, you know. Our PTA board has never stepped up to the bat for these kids very much, and only support a few things like the book fair, the Santa Shop at Christmas, a couple of assemblies a year (a first this year was a group that ran a rehearsals and did a play with the K-5 for one week--the kids LOVED it), Breakfast with Santa, they donate books to the library, and I think that's it. I guess my question is if finances are associated with these kinds of activities, how do the kids get the money to start something like a drama club; would it be out of bounds to help them?
That's a great idea JHB! At our ms the student council runs the school fundraisers and parents help with the distribution. At first I didn't like that because at the elementary level we always did the fundraisers. But, I got over it pretty quick and realized that they could have that aggravation. When my kids were in ms, I bought what I wanted from the student council fundraisers and helped out with the music ones.
At the elementary level we have a fundraising committee that picks the fundraiser, does the paperwork, and distributes the products when they come in. At the ms, the student council advisor picks the fundraiser with the kids okay,the kids distribute the forms, the advisor adds everything up, parents and some kids distribute the products. Sounds like you need an advisor position. It actually works pretty well.
The best fundraiser for a drama group is a flower stand (carnations, $1.00) and refreshment stand at intermission. You get the cast and crew to donate all the baked goods and beverages (bottled water is the best!) and then sell everything for $1.00.
You do realize don't you, Kmamom, that there will always be multiple fundraisers going on continously, right? For years I had 3 kids at three schools, three different scout groups (GS, BS, and cub scouts), 2 sports teams and various music/performing groups. And that was just my house! The only difference now is that we pay college tuition instead for one child and that tuition bite is more then we spent in all the fundraisers combined! [img]tongue.gif[/img]
In our elementary (K=5), the PTO is the central organization - but we don't really have other types of groups that would fundraise, like sports team or choir or special clubs. All fundraisers must be approved by the principal and we are limited to 2 school-wide sale type things per year. It's varied over the years as to own's these two, now it's the school. The PTO has been asked to focus more on volunteerism, and our primary fundraiser will be the Spring Fling event.
In our middle school (6-8) there are tons of organizations: band, athletics, after-school clubs, etc. The PTO is a very minor organization and does not play a huge role. The school has a dance just about once a month. To cut down on the sales fundraisers, the principal allows different groups to sign up to host a dance. (A schedule is set at the first of the year.) The PTO hosts the first dance.
Each group decides how elaborate they want to get. Admission is pretty standard: $3 advance / $5 at teh door (if allowed). But the host group decides if they want to have concessions, pictures, sell glow sticks, etc.
I really like this approach as opposed to each group coming home with a catalog. (Although there are still a fair number of sales fundraisers.)
Thanks for the input you guys! I hope to get more responses about this, because I want to make sure I'm not a nut for feeling disgruntled. It just seems crazy to me(well, inefficient at the least)to have separate fundraisers going on all over the place. From what I see people are less likely to support grade specific occurances because the attitude is, "Why should I support your kid? When it's time for mine, you'll be long gone and I won't see anything from you." Whereas they're more likely to support "the PTO" because they feel the PTO is in it for the long haul, and they'll eventually get their due when it's their kid's turn.
We're a K-8, and I guess not having the PTA involved in the middle school isn't unusual. Why is it that the PTA isn't as involved there? I understand wanting autonomy, but couldn't a parent group help fund something like a drama club, especially if they need the help? I also agree about the athletic teams, I don't think it's a PTO/PTAs job to fund those. Athletics rarely seem to have the trouble getting money that the arts do.
