New rules for school fundraisers: District’s explanation

Seattle Public Schools has new rules about school fundraisers, and they’ve stirred up some concern today. The citywide PTSA Council mentioned them briefly in a newsletter that went out this week:

Starting in the Fall 2013, Seattle Public Schools will take a 10% cut, up to $1000, for the use of school grounds if the fundraising activity takes place during school hours (read: Walk-A-Thons, etc). (We’re trying to think of it as a “use fee” for the space).

That was in turn forwarded to WSB by several outraged parents. So we asked SPS spokesperson Teresa Wippel about the rule change. She explains:

To comply with state law, Seattle Public Schools developed new procedures for school-based fundraising. If fundraisers occur during the school day and involve students (for example, a walkathon or readathon), we are required to ensure that students receive a portion of the proceeds. We worked with PTSA leadership during the past school year to create these procedures, which are aimed at making sure that our students retain a portion of the proceeds for events that they participate in. As a result, if a PTSA fundraiser is an activity that is co-sponsored with ASB, 10 percent – up to $1,500 – goes to the school’s ASB fund. Of course, the ASB fund may be used for many of the things the PTSA supports, such as field trips and sporting and social events.

If the activity is carried out in accordance with all three items listed below, it is a PTSA event; thus the PTSA retains all proceeds:

A) outside of regular school time (after school, evening or weekend)

B) the PTSA does the event planning, organizing, money-handling

C) the event is advertised as a PTSA fundraiser (i.e. Adams PTSA, Ballard Athletics Booster Club).

We also asked when this was approved by the School Board. Answer: It wasn’t – it’s an administrative action. Meantime, a commenter on Seattle Schools Community Forum pointed out that something similar came around three years ago – and was overturned shortly after coming to light.

wsmama3 August 1, 2013 (3:14 pm)

This still guts established programs (during the school day) that go toward supporting staff, schools, and kids.

Why did SPS not send this out? I got non specific (without the details about how some things are / are not PTA events) via e-mail from Seattle PTSA? I can’t say it enough – SPS needs to communicate!

smokeycretin9 August 1, 2013 (3:31 pm)

Wow.just wow.

Rumbles August 1, 2013 (3:45 pm)

Yeah, this makes sense, take money from the kids… but we’ll give it back to the kids. Riiiiiight. Nice how they wait to “announce” this until summer break!

Sw August 1, 2013 (3:52 pm)

I’m having trouble deciphering what happens with the 10%. If the fundraising effort is for the kids, isn’t the money the same? Seems like more hassle having to administrate two sets of funds, which as expressed above MAY have the same purpose.

If this goes into a SSD “slush fund” then kiss that money goodbye. It’s ridiculous enough that you have to pay a custodial staff member overtime to stand with a broom or play solitaire on the computer in their office while your event is going on. (apologies to all the good, responsible custodial staff out there – this comment is based solely on my personal experience)

WSB August 1, 2013 (3:54 pm)

Teresa Wippel at SPS told me, during the several followup-question exchanges we had, that EVERY school has an ASB, so that’s where the 10 percent would go.

Lisa August 1, 2013 (5:41 pm)

I just want to clarify. Is SPS taking the 10% for “use of school grounds?” Or is the 10% going to ASB to ensure the money raised stays with the kids? One sounds like a rental fee for the district, while the other sounds more charitable. Just wondering?

kayo August 1, 2013 (6:21 pm)

There is a lot of gray area on this for me. For example our PTA does a Direct Give in the fall. Since we have a “fill the boot” event on school grounds the last few mornings of the fundraiser is the money generated now subject to this rule? Obviously a large portion of our PTA budget goes directly to kid programs, but this also could be a gray area. Don’t our kids benefit from the professional development, etc. provided by PTA funds? This is just a bad idea on so many levels. A stupid extra step in the process that is not necessary. What does district think PTA funds are used for? At our school the money is for kids whether directly or indirectly by making our school better. It is insulting to tack on this extra step. In this era of incredibly tight budgets our PTA’s have to work hard to fundraise every penny. Please don’t make that even harder SPS! Time to go write some angry emails…

Ferryboat August 1, 2013 (6:56 pm)

Interesting…we’ve been told in Highline that you can’t hold a fundraiser during the school day. However, some schools still have one and others are told it’s not allowed.

Ms. Sparkles August 2, 2013 (10:51 am)

I’m guessing this is SPS’s slacker response to their continued failed audits. SPS keeps getting bad press for their (DT Administration) poor recordkeeping and deplorable fiscal accountablity.

I absolutely agree there needs to be tight controls (not sure if this is really a problem at the school level) on ASB funds – really don’t think letting DT Admin put their sticky fingers in the pot is a good idea

Rumbles August 2, 2013 (1:46 pm)

In thinking, I would have to say I’d be more comfortable with a PTA having control over the money than any entity remotely related to SPS. No offense.

wsparent August 2, 2013 (8:38 pm)

This sounds like a non-issue. It is a rule to get around the “no fundraising during the school day”. If funds are raised during the school day, then 10% goes into a school based fund instead into the PTSA. That money can be spent by teachers/leadership, the ASB, or student body fund. I don’t think it is an SPS only rule. I believe that other district PTAs have to create this same rule to get around the ‘no-fundraising during school time”. The really unfortunate thing is that our schools have to do sooo much fundraising for basic needs!!!

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