How much does your school's PTA raise?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP schools get less $$ per kid than title I schools. They do benefit from economies of scale because they are full, but they do not raise as much as the difference in funds. These funds do give the schools significant flexibility in that a principal can use her budget to hire more staff because the PTA can pick up administrative costs such as supplies.

We probably give about $2000/year to our WOTP elementary (flat out checks, bidding at the auction, money spent at other fundraisers), we are not rich but we used to be in private daycare and preschool so we built this in as an expense when we dropped that cost because we want to do what we can to help make our children's education as much as we can. We have two kids.

Even though some EOTP schools get additional title I funds, that nowhere near comes close to the fundraising the PTAs like Janney fundraise. And of course, the title I funds come because you have some extreme poverty in the schools, so they are desperately in need of additional funds.

And of course this is not about who gets/deserves more and where it comes from, right? but that schools are different and some of their funding sources are different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP schools get less $$ per kid than title I schools. They do benefit from economies of scale because they are full, but they do not raise as much as the difference in funds. These funds do give the schools significant flexibility in that a principal can use her budget to hire more staff because the PTA can pick up administrative costs such as supplies.

We probably give about $2000/year to our WOTP elementary (flat out checks, bidding at the auction, money spent at other fundraisers), we are not rich but we used to be in private daycare and preschool so we built this in as an expense when we dropped that cost because we want to do what we can to help make our children's education as much as we can. We have two kids.

Even though some EOTP schools get additional title I funds, that nowhere near comes close to the fundraising the PTAs like Janney fundraise. And of course, the title I funds come because you have some extreme poverty in the schools, so they are desperately in need of additional funds.

And of course this is not about who gets/deserves more and where it comes from, right? but that schools are different and some of their funding sources are different.

Personally, I think that schools that have a large percentage of poor students do deserve more.

[Anonymous]

^^and yes, they get more under the current system

[Anonymous]

Not when you add in the fundraising that other schools do. And they need much more than they get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not when you add in the fundraising that other schools do. And they need much more than they get.

are you arguing schools should not be allowed to do private fundraising? not really following. i don't think you can prohibit families from fundraising for their schools. would you rather diminish family involvement with schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how PTA fundraising at charter schools compares to WOTP schools? Particularly interested in how Creative Minds, Inspired Teaching, Mundo Verde, etc. do, given their recent popularity (although I know they're relatively new so they may not have much of a track record of fundraising yet).

This year in lieu of an auction LAMB held a 10 day campaign where they asked everyone for donations with the goal of 100% participation. They raised 100,000. Some families gave a lot and some a little but it was all anonymous. I actually prefer this method than having an auction because the overhead is minimal. I think the last auction raised 65,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP schools get less $$ per kid than title I schools. They do benefit from economies of scale because they are full, but they do not raise as much as the difference in funds. These funds do give the schools significant flexibility in that a principal can use her budget to hire more staff because the PTA can pick up administrative costs such as supplies.

We probably give about $2000/year to our WOTP elementary (flat out checks, bidding at the auction, money spent at other fundraisers), we are not rich but we used to be in private daycare and preschool so we built this in as an expense when we dropped that cost because we want to do what we can to help make our children's education as much as we can. We have two kids.

Even though some EOTP schools get additional title I funds, that nowhere near comes close to the fundraising the PTAs like Janney fundraise. And of course, the title I funds come because you have some extreme poverty in the schools, so they are desperately in need of additional funds.

And of course this is not about who gets/deserves more and where it comes from, right? but that schools are different and some of their funding sources are different.

Disagree. It is ABSOLUTELY about who gets and deserves more. It is resolutely unfair that kids who go to PUBLIC schools in certain parts of the city benefit from additional funding just because there are rich parents at their school. There should be a level playing field in terms of who gets services in public schools, when some well funded PTAs have budgets that compare favorably with large schools in themselves and are able to fund entire staff positions there is something very wrong with the picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those who are part of a PTA that raises lots of money, please share your secret.

Lots of rich parents.

A friend whose kids are at one of the JKM schools told me that the fundraising is handled by a professional fundraiser (for a major charity, don't remember which one) who happens to also be a parent at the school. There is a "voluntary" $1500 contribution that they are strong armed to give and most parents do so.

And we wonder why there is such a divide in education here in DC.

I think the situation is a little more complicated. Title 1 schools in DC get much more money than non Title 1 schools, so troubled schools do not necessary get less money, they may have actually get more, even counting the PTA money.

we are at a JKLM school, the foundaising is organized, totally for free, by extremely dedicated parents who, in most cases, juggle family, a full time job, and the PTA activities. many more parents, me included, give their time as the "workforce" for fundraising activities. the foundasing goal is $350 per child and nobody is strong armed to give, parents get a letter and one or two reminders, by mail, and nothing else. the amount is set knowing very well that there are families that cannot donate anything. there are families that donate more, and all kids benefit from the money raised (sometimes even kids who are not at the school - the current playground was completely redone 4 years ago with PTA money, and it is open after school and on weekends to everybody. the money is spent to support school activities and salaries of some staff members (I suspect that the reference to PTA salaries at Janney refers to school staff members whose salaries are covered by the PTA - I am not at that school so I di not have direct experience).

I'm the PP, the school in question is Mann and my friend made it very clear that this "voluntary" donation was expected and that the pressure to contribute -- at that very high level -- was almost impossible to avoid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP schools get less $$ per kid than title I schools. They do benefit from economies of scale because they are full, but they do not raise as much as the difference in funds. These funds do give the schools significant flexibility in that a principal can use her budget to hire more staff because the PTA can pick up administrative costs such as supplies.

We probably give about $2000/year to our WOTP elementary (flat out checks, bidding at the auction, money spent at other fundraisers), we are not rich but we used to be in private daycare and preschool so we built this in as an expense when we dropped that cost because we want to do what we can to help make our children's education as much as we can. We have two kids.

But this is extra money for extra services that is coming from individuals for the school their kids are going to. Do you think it would be unfair for those parents to take their kids to europe for summer vacation because some kids parents can't afford it.



Even though some EOTP schools get additional title I funds, that nowhere near comes close to the fundraising the PTAs like Janney fundraise. And of course, the title I funds come because you have some extreme poverty in the schools, so they are desperately in need of additional funds.

And of course this is not about who gets/deserves more and where it comes from, right? but that schools are different and some of their funding sources are different.

Disagree. It is ABSOLUTELY about who gets and deserves more. It is resolutely unfair that kids who go to PUBLIC schools in certain parts of the city benefit from additional funding just because there are rich parents at their school. There should be a level playing field in terms of who gets services in public schools, when some well funded PTAs have budgets that compare favorably with large schools in themselves and are able to fund entire staff positions there is something very wrong with the picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP schools get less $$ per kid than title I schools. They do benefit from economies of scale because they are full, but they do not raise as much as the difference in funds. These funds do give the schools significant flexibility in that a principal can use her budget to hire more staff because the PTA can pick up administrative costs such as supplies.

We probably give about $2000/year to our WOTP elementary (flat out checks, bidding at the auction, money spent at other fundraisers), we are not rich but we used to be in private daycare and preschool so we built this in as an expense when we dropped that cost because we want to do what we can to help make our children's education as much as we can. We have two kids.

Even though some EOTP schools get additional title I funds, that nowhere near comes close to the fundraising the PTAs like Janney fundraise. And of course, the title I funds come because you have some extreme poverty in the schools, so they are desperately in need of additional funds.

And of course this is not about who gets/deserves more and where it comes from, right? but that schools are different and some of their funding sources are different.

Disagree. It is ABSOLUTELY about who gets and deserves more. It is resolutely unfair that kids who go to PUBLIC schools in certain parts of the city benefit from additional funding just because there are rich parents at their school. There should be a level playing field in terms of who gets services in public schools, when some well funded PTAs have budgets that compare favorably with large schools in themselves and are able to fund entire staff positions there is something very wrong with the picture.

But this is extra money for extra services that is coming from individuals for the school their kids are going to. Do you think it would be unfair for those parents to take their kids to europe for summer vacation because some kids parents can't afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those who are part of a PTA that raises lots of money, please share your secret.

There is no secret. You need a population with friends and relatives with disposable income. People who can either straight up donate $1k+ or buy kiddie produced "art" (read: garbage) at the annual auction for hundreds of dollars a pop. In other parts of the city, that is rent money.

Previous years at Much's silent auction have included Redskins tickets, access to DC "movers & shakers", weekend in Tuscany, selected wine from wine cellar, restaurant vouchers for expensive restaurants, Kennedy Center seats, etc. There were also fun things that involved students such as lunch/breakfast with the principal, limo ride and breakfast treats, paint-ball for kids. At my current school teachers raise money and pay for extra-circular activities!!!

Holy crap.

Our silent auction had some toys, spa items, baby gifts, paintings and a bottle of aged bourbon. I think we raised around $2K. Our total PTA budget is less than $15K. But we're a newer charter and have less than 100 students. This is the first year we've really done any fundraising.

the preparation for the Murch action lasts months (action is usually in March, preparation is already ongoing in October from what I saw in the past), with parents who contact local restaurant for vouchers, theaters in DC for free tickets that will be sold at the auction, all kinds of businesses that are asked to donate (hotel rooms for a weekend staycation in DC, the local pizzeria at the corner, the local toy store, the Kennedy Center and so on). parents also donate to the auction, objects (a book, a bottle of wine, a home made scarf, whatever they can) or time (offering to cook brunch for a family, delivering a home made cake once a week for several weeks, a weekly supply of fresh herbs from a parent's garden during the summer and so on). some of the items mentioned above sound fancy but have a more normal origin. the week in Tuscany was possible simply because one of the Murch parent is Italian, her relatives have a small apartment in Tuscany and they offered it to the school at the auction. less expensive that a week on the Delmarva coast if you can buy the airplane tickets with frequent flyers miles, as the winner did. the wine collection is created by a family that host an evening at their homes and parents who attend are asked to bring a bottle of wine. Murch has almost 630 students, so obviously we will raised more that a school with 100 students, but the truth is that there is a lot of very hard work involved

Wasn't criticizing and agreed the parents do work wonders and care about the school and AL the students. It's just unfortunate that other schools do not have the same resourceful parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those who are part of a PTA that raises lots of money, please share your secret.

There is no secret. You need a population with friends and relatives with disposable income. People who can either straight up donate $1k+ or buy kiddie produced "art" (read: garbage) at the annual auction for hundreds of dollars a pop. In other parts of the city, that is rent money.

Previous years at Much's silent auction have included Redskins tickets, access to DC "movers & shakers", weekend in Tuscany, selected wine from wine cellar, restaurant vouchers for expensive restaurants, Kennedy Center seats, etc. There were also fun things that involved students such as lunch/breakfast with the principal, limo ride and breakfast treats, paint-ball for kids. At my current school teachers raise money and pay for extra-circular activities!!!

Holy crap.

Our silent auction had some toys, spa items, baby gifts, paintings and a bottle of aged bourbon. I think we raised around $2K. Our total PTA budget is less than $15K. But we're a newer charter and have less than 100 students. This is the first year we've really done any fundraising.

the preparation for the Murch action lasts months (action is usually in March, preparation is already ongoing in October from what I saw in the past), with parents who contact local restaurant for vouchers, theaters in DC for free tickets that will be sold at the auction, all kinds of businesses that are asked to donate (hotel rooms for a weekend staycation in DC, the local pizzeria at the corner, the local toy store, the Kennedy Center and so on). parents also donate to the auction, objects (a book, a bottle of wine, a home made scarf, whatever they can) or time (offering to cook brunch for a family, delivering a home made cake once a week for several weeks, a weekly supply of fresh herbs from a parent's garden during the summer and so on). some of the items mentioned above sound fancy but have a more normal origin. the week in Tuscany was possible simply because one of the Murch parent is Italian, her relatives have a small apartment in Tuscany and they offered it to the school at the auction. less expensive that a week on the Delmarva coast if you can buy the airplane tickets with frequent flyers miles, as the winner did. the wine collection is created by a family that host an evening at their homes and parents who attend are asked to bring a bottle of wine. Murch has almost 630 students, so obviously we will raised more that a school with 100 students, but the truth is that there is a lot of very hard work involved

Wasn't criticizing and agreed the parents do work wonders and care about the school and AL the students. It's just unfortunate that other schools do not have the same resourceful parents.

PP whoops that should say "ALL".

[Anonymous]

Latin's PTA raises a decent amount and, despite what some people think, it's not a school full of rich families. A good number of families do not qualify for FARM but they are working families with tight budgets. With that said, like at other schools, some families just don't believe donating to the PTA is a priority - the "I already pay taxes argument.". BTW, Latin does a direct ask for money. They do not do an auction.

I will add that at our JKLM, it was mostly the families of younger grades that donate. Participation percentage dropped a lot by the time kids reach the 5th grade. Just like family donations either cease altogether or become quite low when students reach high school age. When we were at a JKLM, the suggested donation was set high to offset the fact the all families do not give - just like at every other school I would imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The WOTP schools get less $$ per kid than title I schools. They do benefit from economies of scale because they are full, but they do not raise as much as the difference in funds. These funds do give the schools significant flexibility in that a principal can use her budget to hire more staff because the PTA can pick up administrative costs such as supplies.

We probably give about $2000/year to our WOTP elementary (flat out checks, bidding at the auction, money spent at other fundraisers), we are not rich but we used to be in private daycare and preschool so we built this in as an expense when we dropped that cost because we want to do what we can to help make our children's education as much as we can. We have two kids.

Even though some EOTP schools get additional title I funds, that nowhere near comes close to the fundraising the PTAs like Janney fundraise. And of course, the title I funds come because you have some extreme poverty in the schools, so they are desperately in need of additional funds.

And of course this is not about who gets/deserves more and where it comes from, right? but that schools are different and some of their funding sources are different.

Disagree. It is ABSOLUTELY about who gets and deserves more. It is resolutely unfair that kids who go to PUBLIC schools in certain parts of the city benefit from additional funding just because there are rich parents at their school. There should be a level playing field in terms of who gets services in public schools, when some well funded PTAs have budgets that compare favorably with large schools in themselves and are able to fund entire staff positions there is something very wrong with the picture.

But this is extra money for extra services that is coming from individuals for the school their kids are going to. Do you think it would be unfair for those parents to take their kids to europe for summer vacation because some kids parents can't afford it.

No, because that is the families private time. When it means that kids in rich parts of town get much better education and services at their PUBLIC school, than kids in poorer parts of town I think its extremely unfair and I can't imagine how any sane person could justify it.

[Anonymous]

Here are submitted DCPS budgets for FY15: http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/About+DCPS/Budget+and+Finance/FY15+Fiscal+Report+Card/Submitted+Budgets

Janney's PTA fundraising is HUGE, and has to be the largest of any elementary school in the city by far. But for some perspective, their DCPS budget increase (not the level, the increase) for FY15 was over $600K. Relative to what even fairly wealthy upper NW schools can raise, which is big, the actual school budgets are much bigger. I know for my non-JKLM upper NW school, the PTA funds are about 3 percent of the school budget. Important? Yes. Nice to have? Sure. Doing important things? Absolutely. Difference between a great school and a good school? Maybe, but probably not.