PTA charging for events

[Anonymous]

Here’s a solution OP. Maybe you can run the talent show next year and see the financials and logistics that go into running a PTA. Or you can continue running your mouth about things you don’t take the time to understand. Up to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here- no meal, no snack is included with this ticket . Your school sounds a little more reasonable in the approach especially since no parent is involved in gathering information of other parents who cannot pay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For background, Our elementary school population is 30% FARMS (free reduced meals). Our pta plans to host a talent show in the next week or so. They will be requiring tickets to attend this event which cost $5 per adult and $2 per student. If you cannot afford this charge, you must email a mother who works with the pta who sponsors the event and request a free ticket for your family. I personally find this demeaning and am horrified that they are charging entry to this pta event.

I would like to get feedback from DCUM to see what others think. Is this appropriate? Couldn’t this be donation/ pay what you will in order to make it a fundraising event? Thoughts on this?

I don’t think that charging — or singling out people who want to request free tickets is appropriate. Who is participating in the talent show? If it’s students, then the fees are problematic on many levels — including the “solution “ which sounds humiliating.
Why not have the event be free — but sell raffle tickets for a prize or prizes to be announced at the end of the show? You could also have a donation box — specifying what the donations will be used for. (“Help support the school enrichment activities “ or whatever.)

There are so many "compassionate" people on DCUM who have never actually been poor or dealt with poor people. If people want to go, they will ask for a ticket. The PTA needs to cover costs, they have provided an option for people to attend and it is all good. These posters are the same ones who will lament that their school doesn't have after school activities or assemblies, etc. Where do you think the money comes from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a solution OP. Maybe you can run the talent show next year and see the financials and logistics that go into running a PTA. Or you can continue running your mouth about things you don’t take the time to understand. Up to you!

OP here- I actually am involved and active in helping the PTA so yes I do understand logistics of planning events very well. I did not plan/ help this event and simply looking for how things are done elsewhere & what others think.

[Anonymous]

I have volunteered with our PTA at an east county school for 4 years. We have never charged admissions to a school based event for students or their family. Participation is free. Our international night was pot luck and a talent show and not everyone brought food and that's ok.
PTA pays for entertainers during some events like bounce houses, petting zoo etc. For off site events, it's usually free for students and a nominal fee for parents. We run 1-2 free busses from the near by apartment bindings so people can get there. Concessions and food trucks are for $ but always optional. We are just below focus level school in terms of FARMS. I love seeing the families with 3,4,5 kids show up on a weekend or weeknight event and have fun at our events. The PTA works hard to raise money in other ways: business sponsorships and donations and auction etc. so we can offer these events free to the students and families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have volunteered with our PTA at an east county school for 4 years. We have never charged admissions to a school based event for students or their family. Participation is free. Our international night was pot luck and a talent show and not everyone brought food and that's ok.
PTA pays for entertainers during some events like bounce houses, petting zoo etc. For off site events, it's usually free for students and a nominal fee for parents. We run 1-2 free busses from the near by apartment bindings so people can get there. Concessions and food trucks are for $ but always optional. We are just below focus level school in terms of FARMS. I love seeing the families with 3,4,5 kids show up on a weekend or weeknight event and have fun at our events. The PTA works hard to raise money in other ways: business sponsorships and donations and auction etc. so we can offer these events free to the students and families.

Op here - thanks for sharing this. It’s nice to hear stories about a pta that is able to both allow for free entry and still make a profit to be able to provide those “extras “ to the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a solution OP. Maybe you can run the talent show next year and see the financials and logistics that go into running a PTA. Or you can continue running your mouth about things you don’t take the time to understand. Up to you!

OP here- I actually am involved and active in helping the PTA so yes I do understand logistics of planning events very well. I did not plan/ help this event and simply looking for how things are done elsewhere & what others think.

So instead of offering to help with a way to raise money to make the event free, which seems important to you, you choose to come on DCUM and throw shade at people who are just doing their best to provide a fun evening for families. Nice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a solution OP. Maybe you can run the talent show next year and see the financials and logistics that go into running a PTA. Or you can continue running your mouth about things you don’t take the time to understand. Up to you!

OP here- I actually am involved and active in helping the PTA so yes I do understand logistics of planning events very well. I did not plan/ help this event and simply looking for how things are done elsewhere & what others think.

So instead of offering to help with a way to raise money to make the event free, which seems important to you, you choose to come on DCUM and throw shade at people who are just doing their best to provide a fun evening for families. Nice!

Lol this is a typical angry dcum response when anyone asks for honest opinions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a solution OP. Maybe you can run the talent show next year and see the financials and logistics that go into running a PTA. Or you can continue running your mouth about things you don’t take the time to understand. Up to you!

OP here- I actually am involved and active in helping the PTA so yes I do understand logistics of planning events very well. I did not plan/ help this event and simply looking for how things are done elsewhere & what others think.

So instead of offering to help with a way to raise money to make the event free, which seems important to you, you choose to come on DCUM and throw shade at people who are just doing their best to provide a fun evening for families. Nice!

Lol this is a typical angry dcum response when anyone asks for honest opinions

Lol this is the typical lazy do nothing response from people who like to complain and not contribute

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a solution OP. Maybe you can run the talent show next year and see the financials and logistics that go into running a PTA. Or you can continue running your mouth about things you don’t take the time to understand. Up to you!

OP here- I actually am involved and active in helping the PTA so yes I do understand logistics of planning events very well. I did not plan/ help this event and simply looking for how things are done elsewhere & what others think.

So instead of offering to help with a way to raise money to make the event free, which seems important to you, you choose to come on DCUM and throw shade at people who are just doing their best to provide a fun evening for families. Nice!

Lol this is a typical angry dcum response when anyone asks for honest opinions

Lol this is the typical lazy do nothing response from people who like to complain and not contribute

Which lazy do nothing person is that? OP already told you he/she/they participate in PTA events. Damn this thread changed tone real quick

[Anonymous]

There are costs associated and how do you want them paid for. I ran a pta and we did that. It was no big deal. Only I and the treasurer knew and it was not discussed even with the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a solution OP. Maybe you can run the talent show next year and see the financials and logistics that go into running a PTA. Or you can continue running your mouth about things you don’t take the time to understand. Up to you!

OP here- I actually am involved and active in helping the PTA so yes I do understand logistics of planning events very well. I did not plan/ help this event and simply looking for how things are done elsewhere & what others think.

So instead of offering to help with a way to raise money to make the event free, which seems important to you, you choose to come on DCUM and throw shade at people who are just doing their best to provide a fun evening for families. Nice!

They could donate $500 to cover some of the costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a solution OP. Maybe you can run the talent show next year and see the financials and logistics that go into running a PTA. Or you can continue running your mouth about things you don’t take the time to understand. Up to you!

OP here- I actually am involved and active in helping the PTA so yes I do understand logistics of planning events very well. I did not plan/ help this event and simply looking for how things are done elsewhere & what others think.

So instead of offering to help with a way to raise money to make the event free, which seems important to you, you choose to come on DCUM and throw shade at people who are just doing their best to provide a fun evening for families. Nice!

They could donate $500 to cover some of the costs.

Or $50. Does not take $500 to put on an elementary talent show. And yes, speaking from experience. If the talent show costs $500 to produce no wonder they have to charge families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a solution OP. Maybe you can run the talent show next year and see the financials and logistics that go into running a PTA. Or you can continue running your mouth about things you don’t take the time to understand. Up to you!

OP here- I actually am involved and active in helping the PTA so yes I do understand logistics of planning events very well. I did not plan/ help this event and simply looking for how things are done elsewhere & what others think.

So instead of offering to help with a way to raise money to make the event free, which seems important to you, you choose to come on DCUM and throw shade at people who are just doing their best to provide a fun evening for families. Nice!

They could donate $500 to cover some of the costs.

Or $50. Does not take $500 to put on an elementary talent show. And yes, speaking from experience. If the talent show costs $500 to produce no wonder they have to charge families.

It probably doesn’t cost $500 to put it on but it’s possible that they are hoping to raise $500 with this event in order to pay for other things. Like books, supplies, field trips, etc. There are lots of ways to make money and this particular event may be one of them. There are other events that may not cost because they aren’t fundraisers. But there have to be some events that make money to have others that don’t. I would much rather pay $5 and buy some snacks for a fun, inexpensive community event than feel forced to sell pizza kits or candy bars. Not all PTAs have the manpower to solicit business sponsorships and host silent auctions. That’s a ton of work.