PTA charging for events

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is going to pay for the event of they don't charge for tickets?

What exactly needs to be paid for?

After 6 pm on a weeknight, our PTA would have had to pay $24/hour to use both the cafeteria and the gym (they needed the whole combined space to fit everyone for an event like a talent show). They’d need the space for at least 3 hours, maybe 4 to have time for setup and cleanup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our talent show was held offsite so there were costs involved and required modestly priced tickets. Are any schools large enough to host a talent show that allows parents, etc to attend? I’m pretty sure schools are charged when events are held at larger high schools, etc.

It’s not even free for a PTA to use their own school outside of the school day.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, this feels gross to me too. I don't love asking public school parents to pay to watch their child perform.

I like the idea of selling snacks as a middle ground--cover your costs without limiting who can come.

But I guess once they get to middle/high school, theater performances and football games charge, even for mom and dad, so maybe it's the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, this feels gross to me too. I don't love asking public school parents to pay to watch their child perform.

I like the idea of selling snacks as a middle ground--cover your costs without limiting who can come.

But I guess once they get to middle/high school, theater performances and football games charge, even for mom and dad, so maybe it's the norm.

A little elementary pta sponsored Talent show is a little different than a big theater program/ production. This is definitely gross

[Anonymous]

The whole of the PTA is to raise money for the school, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Instead of being outraged on behalf of those you perceive to be low-income, perhaps give it a minute to see if it’s actually an issue for them.

Teachers at Title I schools can share how even families they perceive to be low-income or actually are FARMs vacation at Disney, fly home to “their country” to visit family, etc.

There’s a process in place to accommodate anyone who asks—just like schools have for field trips, etc.

No need to be outraged unless/until it’s an issue that can’t be addressed.

+1 I think you’d be surprised that people you perceive as low income either aren’t humiliated by requesting the comped tickets, or are fully willing to proudly chip in a few bucks to a fundraiser where their kid is performing. You don’t need to be outraged on behalf of others if you don’t even know if those folks have an issue.

A couple things about PTA budgets. Some events are budgeted and planned as “community building” events and do not raise funds. Others are earmarked as fundraisers and are expected to recoup costs at the very least, and raise money for other PTA expenses. The PTA has all kinds of expenses you may not realize. They need to pay MCPS for the space they’re holding the talent show. They may have needed to rent speakers and microphones. They may be providing refreshments. They may need to compensate building services staff who clean up. They may have program printing fees. Etc. They also have operational yearly fees and expenses and perhaps this was a fun idea to raise funds to cover those. If you think you know better how to raise money to pay for all the things the PTA funds (many of which disproportionately funnel to support FARMS families), then I recommend you volunteer on the board so you can understand the actual dollars and cents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t remember if our elementary charged for tickets to a talents show, but they definitely didn’t charge anybody $5. I think the way they made money was by selling refreshments.

This is or should be the way its done. Entrance fee? What is this America's got talent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our talent show was held offsite so there were costs involved and required modestly priced tickets. Are any schools large enough to host a talent show that allows parents, etc to attend? I’m pretty sure schools are charged when events are held at larger high schools, etc.

It’s not even free for a PTA to use their own school outside of the school day.

Damn. Y’all need to come over to FCPS. No charge for school-connected events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Instead of being outraged on behalf of those you perceive to be low-income, perhaps give it a minute to see if it’s actually an issue for them.

Teachers at Title I schools can share how even families they perceive to be low-income or actually are FARMs vacation at Disney, fly home to “their country” to visit family, etc.

There’s a process in place to accommodate anyone who asks—just like schools have for field trips, etc.

No need to be outraged unless/until it’s an issue that can’t be addressed.

OMG! You really are clueless. My kids are older now but when they were in elementary there were families who relied on the school and PTA as essentially a food bank. If they couldn’t get some groceries donated on Fridays they couldn’t make it through the weekend. Some of them didn’t even have a pan to heat up a can of beans. You are clueless to the amount of poverty in this area of you fail to understand why an entry fee to a school event isyet another barrier for some families.

[Anonymous]

19:40 could that be why they are trying to add a fee?: to try to prevent as many "low income" families from attending or showing up, but then that wouldn't be much community building. Or is it because those families are the ones who usually show up and they want them to contribute if they are not contributing to the PTA in other ways? Your kid is performing or you are coming, pay up. There are costs running event paying for venue, human and other resources, refreshments

[Anonymous]

Are these people new to the school?

They should have the event be free to attend and then make money by selling pizza, snacks, raffle tickets, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t remember if our elementary charged for tickets to a talents show, but they definitely didn’t charge anybody $5. I think the way they made money was by selling refreshments.

This is or should be the way its done. Entrance fee? What is this America's got talent?

+1

Charging for tickets is creating a barrier for some families and they should not have to “ask” to attend for free. The main priority of a pta community event should be to bring families together not to make as much money as possible.

PTA should be setting up a system of “pay what you will” or ask for donations at the door. Sell refreshments as well. As other poster mentioned, a raffle is a great way to generate revenue. All these alternative ideas would pay for the nominal fee to print flyers, rent the space from mcps and pay for any other small things such as decorations and I bet the pta would still make a profit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are these people new to the school?

They should have the event be free to attend and then make money by selling pizza, snacks, raffle tickets, etc.

+1
This is the normal way to do it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The whole of the PTA is to raise money for the school, no?

No, it is not. Please see the mission statement and core values from pta.org

Mission:

PTA's mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

https://www.pta.org/home/About-National-Parent-Teacher-Association/Mission-Values#:~:text=One%20Voice.,to%20advocate%20for%20all%20children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are these people new to the school?

They should have the event be free to attend and then make money by selling pizza, snacks, raffle tickets, etc.

At our school (I am a teacher and a parent), the tickets are to be paid but yes, they can reach out to counselor for those that are free or reduced or need help to pay. The pta are notified of the amount of tickets that are needed from the counselor. The families privacy is protected. The food is free. Everyone who enters gets a ticket. That ticket allows for a free grab and go snack or meal. It singles no one out in the moment if they have a financial need. Not saying this is the only right way but I do believe it works. The money goes to the pta but it’s for the school. Goes back to the teachers or students one way or the other.