Can someone explain why teen kids need to fundraise $1,000 for a public school sport?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our team has a $250 goal, and we attend probably one of the highest SES schools in the country.

Instead of asking family we just write a check.

It goes towards extras like uniforms more often, swag at the end of season banquet (where every kid gets something like a water bottle and hoodie) and covers some additional expenses for food and team events. A bunch goes back to the booster club.

I wish our school/sport did it like that.
For us, the coach refuses to state a monetary goal per player. He requires every player to give 25 contacts. It doesn't matter how much your parent/main donor gives--you still have to give all 25 contacts.

+1 same at ours

I just want to write a check in full, takes 1min and done. School gets their $. But no. They want us to sit down and look up 25 of our friends and family to harass. Embarrassing.

That’s crazy. My social circle isn’t that deep and our families are small. I’d have to hit up people I haven’t talked to in years to get up to 25 contacts.

[Anonymous]

Why isn't the school system covering the cost to cart the soccer team on a bus to an away game? Its a school activity, they are on fcps buses.

[Anonymous]

Our crew team has a $1,000 fee for our public high school. Fees vary based on sports in our town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't the school system covering the cost to cart the soccer team on a bus to an away game? Its a school activity, they are on fcps buses.

It’s just a budgeting issue. Some school districts don’t have the money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School funding for extra curricular has been cut significantly in the past decade. Some won’t even replace uniforms if some are lost and there is no longer a full set. Buses are terribly expensive right how. If a team wants to do things like play out of conference schools (like a scrimmage against a private school), the team will have to pay for the bus and possibly also the ref. It can add up very quickly.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't the school system covering the cost to cart the soccer team on a bus to an away game? Its a school activity, they are on fcps buses.

Not everyone posting here lives in fairfax county

[Anonymous]

My kid’s high school team asks each player to raise $800 by soliciting area businesses. Businesses can give money which gets them advertising. It could be as much as a banner in the stadium or as small as a quarter page ad in the program given out at every game.

I get that all the equipment is not covered by school budget and we have an active athletic boosters which covers many costs. However, some sports don’t raise a single dime (football) while DC and their team is expected to pound the pavement to get businesses to give. I hate that.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and raising $800 is not required, but it seems expected.

[Anonymous]

Let me know when the district brass have to fundraise for the multiple conferences (read vacations) they fly to all school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our crew team has a $1,000 fee for our public high school. Fees vary based on sports in our town.

That’s a bargain! Most crew public school programs are $2K+

[Anonymous]

Couldn’t agree more. The whole thing is a sham. And then you show up to the practices and all the parents are driving car they can’t afford 😆

[Anonymous]

Our school has boosters. We have been told school covers buses and fields and gym but no equipment. The fundraising covers everything else. I know I have to pay for uniforms, balls, gear, equipment. I just donate the $1000 for my kid. I wouldn’t hit up any friends and family.

[Anonymous]

They'll be getting made up email addresses from us. The rest of my family doesn't live here or have nova salaries. And it's my kids so I should pay for their extra-curriculars. That's why they're called "extra." Just tell me how much it costs so I can write a check.

Accountability for where the money goes would be great, but I won't get my hopes up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They'll be getting made up email addresses from us. The rest of my family doesn't live here or have nova salaries. And it's my kids so I should pay for their extra-curriculars. That's why they're called "extra." Just tell me how much it costs so I can write a check.

Accountability for where the money goes would be great, but I won't get my hopes up.

This is more or less what we did. They needed to get a “minimum of 25” (ugggh). We put in our other minor kids’ emails, our junk emails and so on. I even had my younger kids “donate” LOL requiring multiple transactions on my end so it looked like at least a few different people. The players were strictly warned and lectured at practice that “it should not just be your parents donating”. Why?!?! Anyway- if the boosters noticed, no one ever said anything. I hate things like this. From what I hear, every sports team at my kids’ HS uses this system for fundraising. Everyone hates it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone has the money and your hate to see kids not be able to be on the team because their families can’t afford it. And not every kid will hit the fundraising goal. So they aren’t getting $1k for every kid.

They always have financial aid for kids who can’t afford it. Your nieces’ parents can do what I did bought all the stuff or donated the amount necessary.

I think it’s more about fairness in the budget. The school doesn’t want to spend over a certain amount for an activity that only a small amount of students might be involved in. Especially sports. The drama club isn’t going to NYC to see a play. The student government isn’t taking a trip to the UN. It’s a matter of fairness.