Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why do they need pizza?

Shouldn't you be planning within the money you have?

I find it cheaper to do pizza and a few other things then tons of random snacks. Kids will almost always eat the pizza (in less a food allergy). I do it as a way to cut down my costs.

It isn't working.

You need to plan with the money you have, not ask for more. You don't need "tons of random snacks" either.

Sounds to me like you don't budget very well.

How is pizza ever going to be cheaper than asking people to bring in cheese sticks and fruit OR pretzels and fruit? It's not.

You can’t have those snack items for kids in 5th-6th grade. Some of these kids are adult sized. You need some kind of a meal.

No you don't.

You do for our fifth grade class. The 2 parties this year - at the teacher’s request - are during lunchtime. She asked that the party include lunch. So we have to have a meal.

Of course it makes sense as a replacement for lunch but that’s not what anyone here is saying.

Even then, you should either push back on the lunch timing or tell the teacher you don't have $ to provide lunch, but you can provide a dessert to go with their regular lunch.

That’s insane. Twice a whole year it is reasonable for kids to have a group lunch of pizza during a class party. Pushback? Wth

If there is no money, there is no money, unless you think the pizza fairy is going to deliver the pizza for free. This whole thread started when op complained other parents weren't contributing enough to the party the teacher wanted/suggested. If the parents fund it (either collectively or the room parents sucking kt up), then great. If not, then even two times a year is more than can be done for that class.

You put pizza in the sign up genius. Usually one parent buys it all or sometimes two (but when we've had two we get way to much pizza). Or, you collect money - $5 a party is plenty. Or, room parent pays. Simple.

OP is complaining she ran out of money as she overspent and wants more money to continue to fund her parties. She must be buying fancy expensive pizza's for that price. She should be fired as room parent.

We’ve never had asked a parent or parents to donate pizza. That’s a lot to ask.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This is OP. For those of you who are saying I am spending too much on Pizza, for the record, Dominos was $120 for the last party. That included the small individual pizza for one child with allergies. I ordered the amount the teacher requested and she said it was all gone. I need to use Dominos because 1) it has to be delivered since I work full time and can't take a day off to deliver pizza and 2) it works menu-wise with the child with allergies. So I am not being extravagent; I am doing what the teacher requested.

This makes no sense. Maybe someone else should take over.

+1. Someone who can deliver a costco cake to school, and can say "pizza doesn't fit in the budget and special snowflake doesn't need a 20 dollar pizza of his/her own."

OP here, you're all welcome to volunteer. Oh, that's right... .no one else did. That's why I am doing it. Step up or shut up.

LOL. I am the room parent and don’t have these problems! You are doing something wrong!

+1. I’ve been room parent 4 times with two different kids at a relatively well-off elementary school and my older kid had pizza once when the PTA paid for it. Ask some other room parents at your school what they are doing, because I get the sense that you may be making your life harder than it needs to be.

+1 I've been a room parent for the last two years and have never spent my own money other than for whatever items I decided to bring to a party. I always had way more volunteers than I needed to attend, bring food, and even go on field trips. OP, there must be something wrong with your message, which isn't remotely surprising given what you've written on this post. You should quit and let someone else take over. They will likely have better results.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:OP, that’s not what we said at all. Just do a signup genius! No need to demand cash from parents ever. We have great fun parties with just sign up genius and room mom doesn’t need to go broke.

And if parents do not sign up for SignUp Genius, you can send out an email saying that the party will get cancelled due to lack of participation. I think this is a better way to engage parents.

That doesn't work. And, our teacher tried that and my child came home really upset. We were happy to donate what ever was needed and did. Problem solved. You don't do that to kids. If no one signs up, room parent can do cupcakes or cookies and bottled water. Or, they can do more. We've done it a variety of ways. Usually you can get 4-5 parents to sign up for the absolute basics and the room parent fills in.

Pfft. Its ok for the snowflakes to be upset once in a while.

Why? You don't promise a party and then don't come through. If you don't want to do the work or pay for it, then why do you care what others do? The kids really enjoy the parties so I'm happy to do it.

No, you are CLEARLY not happy to do it. You have gone off the edge. Your child probably didn't care, or if they did, it's only because you made a big deal about the party. This is all on you, OP. All of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the original question, however: is only 55% of the class donates, yet they all consume, how is this fair? Pizza or cupcakes, whatever the budget... if your child is benefiting from the class funds and you don't contribute, is that fair? Put financial hardship aside. We all understand that. But I doubt half the class in OP's case is under that circumstance.

So you do realize that the parents whose children are at the school have also contributed unevenly to the cost of running the school? For example, parents in the highest tax bracket pay/contribute more, and those in the lowest pay less, or nothing at all? Then there's all the parents who pay but send their kids to private school (where, by the way, you have the same issue because of financial aid). The fact that you are bothered by which parents have contributed to a stupid class party and the fact that some parents haven't paid their $25 but their kid nonetheless gets to have a cookie means you have some serious issues.

- room mom

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:People may appreciate being asked for money for particular things throughout the year rather than for one lump sum at the beginning. Also, have people bring food or pay for food for specific parties. We have much higher contribution rates than you, which could be due to a number of different factors, but we do both of the things I mentioned so perhaps that helps.

That’s a bitch to collect multiple times per year. That’s definitely not the way to do it.

Hmm, well it works just fine for us and we've never had any of the issues OP is whining about.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I was often the room parent when my kids were in lower grades and I used to send out emails at the beginning of the year detailing what activities, parties, food, teacher's gift we would have for the entire year. I met with the teacher to draw out the plans (usually duplicating what was done in the previous years), and send an email and a signup genius link to all parents. An email was sent every week for the first 6 weeks, listing the names of all the people who had contributed. Within the first couple of weeks, all parents used to sent in their fixed $ contribution. We usually had a set number of celebrations, some activities and holiday teacher's gift. We relied on some parents to make a costco run for the parties.

I did not want to run after people to get money from them, so I made sure that all the funds were collected during the first few weeks of school. I sent emails every week for the first few weeks listing the names of people who contributed and those who still had to. It was easy to write the reminder emails at the beginning of the year.

OP, being a room parent is a responsibility not a popularity contest. You need to be blunt and make sure that everyone contributes at least a minimum agreed upon amount. If people want to contribute more it is up to them, but the fixed amount contribution is mandatory.

Wow, this is really shitting. You called out the people who didn't contribute? You're pretty rude to even gripe about it behind their backs, but you are an awful person for shaming them in a group email.

- a room mom

Agreed. It is terrible to keep track and call out people like that.
Our teacher gave us room parents a form letter for the class donation which we adapted. In it she asked us to keep track of amounts but not who donated. I think that was best.

+1!

If a room parent in my DC’s class sent out a class wide email naming families who didn’t give money, I would think very poorly of that room parent, not of the parents who didn’t (for whatever reason) contribute!

That is really inappropriate to keep track of who gives and who does not. I would never agree to that (nor do I even keep track). Either we get the money or sign ups and if we don't I pay.

No way. It's called being a good steward of public funds. I always keep a spreadsheet with who donated, and how much and where the funds were spent. I send out the detailed info on how the funds were spent at the end of the year. Sometimes people have asked me if they donated, because they can't remember if they sent in class dues for Kid A or Kid B. I can look it up and tell them quickly. The last thing a room parent wants to get accused of is misappropriating funds.

[Anonymous]

OP, go home. Go for a walk, take a bath, do something to relax. You are completely unhinged. Let it go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the original question, however: is only 55% of the class donates, yet they all consume, how is this fair? Pizza or cupcakes, whatever the budget... if your child is benefiting from the class funds and you don't contribute, is that fair? Put financial hardship aside. We all understand that. But I doubt half the class in OP's case is under that circumstance.

It's not fair. Who told you life was fair?
Put on your big girl pants and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the original question, however: is only 55% of the class donates, yet they all consume, how is this fair? Pizza or cupcakes, whatever the budget... if your child is benefiting from the class funds and you don't contribute, is that fair? Put financial hardship aside. We all understand that. But I doubt half the class in OP's case is under that circumstance.

It's not fair. Who told you life was fair?
Put on your big girl pants and move on.

+1 Or serve pretzels and mini-cupcakes on paper towels (10$ at the most) if the issue of other children getting snacks their parents didn't pay for triggers you so much. They'll have fun either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was often the room parent when my kids were in lower grades and I used to send out emails at the beginning of the year detailing what activities, parties, food, teacher's gift we would have for the entire year. I met with the teacher to draw out the plans (usually duplicating what was done in the previous years), and send an email and a signup genius link to all parents. An email was sent every week for the first 6 weeks, listing the names of all the people who had contributed. Within the first couple of weeks, all parents used to sent in their fixed $ contribution. We usually had a set number of celebrations, some activities and holiday teacher's gift. We relied on some parents to make a costco run for the parties.

I did not want to run after people to get money from them, so I made sure that all the funds were collected during the first few weeks of school. I sent emails every week for the first few weeks listing the names of people who contributed and those who still had to. It was easy to write the reminder emails at the beginning of the year.

OP, being a room parent is a responsibility not a popularity contest. You need to be blunt and make sure that everyone contributes at least a minimum agreed upon amount. If people want to contribute more it is up to them, but the fixed amount contribution is mandatory.

Wow, this is really shitting. You called out the people who didn't contribute? You're pretty rude to even gripe about it behind their backs, but you are an awful person for shaming them in a group email.

- a room mom

Agreed. It is terrible to keep track and call out people like that.
Our teacher gave us room parents a form letter for the class donation which we adapted. In it she asked us to keep track of amounts but not who donated. I think that was best.

+1!

If a room parent in my DC’s class sent out a class wide email naming families who didn’t give money, I would think very poorly of that room parent, not of the parents who didn’t (for whatever reason) contribute!

That is really inappropriate to keep track of who gives and who does not. I would never agree to that (nor do I even keep track). Either we get the money or sign ups and if we don't I pay.

I can’t believe you did this. So rude. I would think horrible of you as well- not the families who didn’t contribute

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was often the room parent when my kids were in lower grades and I used to send out emails at the beginning of the year detailing what activities, parties, food, teacher's gift we would have for the entire year. I met with the teacher to draw out the plans (usually duplicating what was done in the previous years), and send an email and a signup genius link to all parents. An email was sent every week for the first 6 weeks, listing the names of all the people who had contributed. Within the first couple of weeks, all parents used to sent in their fixed $ contribution. We usually had a set number of celebrations, some activities and holiday teacher's gift. We relied on some parents to make a costco run for the parties.

I did not want to run after people to get money from them, so I made sure that all the funds were collected during the first few weeks of school. I sent emails every week for the first few weeks listing the names of people who contributed and those who still had to. It was easy to write the reminder emails at the beginning of the year.

OP, being a room parent is a responsibility not a popularity contest. You need to be blunt and make sure that everyone contributes at least a minimum agreed upon amount. If people want to contribute more it is up to them, but the fixed amount contribution is mandatory.

Wow, this is really shitting. You called out the people who didn't contribute? You're pretty rude to even gripe about it behind their backs, but you are an awful person for shaming them in a group email.

- a room mom

Agreed. It is terrible to keep track and call out people like that.
Our teacher gave us room parents a form letter for the class donation which we adapted. In it she asked us to keep track of amounts but not who donated. I think that was best.

+1!

If a room parent in my DC’s class sent out a class wide email naming families who didn’t give money, I would think very poorly of that room parent, not of the parents who didn’t (for whatever reason) contribute!

That is really inappropriate to keep track of who gives and who does not. I would never agree to that (nor do I even keep track). Either we get the money or sign ups and if we don't I pay.

I can’t believe you did this. So rude. I would think horrible of you as well- not the families who didn’t contribute

And that's how PTA funds end up getting "lost." Be organized people. You don't need to name and shame, but it's basic administration 101 to keep track of where money is coming from and how you spend it.

[Anonymous]

Our school started forbidding this. It's been the best year. Contribute what you want. No pressure. It's glorious.

[Anonymous]

Why do kids need pizza at their parties? LOL..

Pretzels, popcorn, and some carrot sticks. $5. You're welcome!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the original question, however: is only 55% of the class donates, yet they all consume, how is this fair? Pizza or cupcakes, whatever the budget... if your child is benefiting from the class funds and you don't contribute, is that fair? Put financial hardship aside. We all understand that. But I doubt half the class in OP's case is under that circumstance.

So you do realize that the parents whose children are at the school have also contributed unevenly to the cost of running the school? For example, parents in the highest tax bracket pay/contribute more, and those in the lowest pay less, or nothing at all? Then there's all the parents who pay but send their kids to private school (where, by the way, you have the same issue because of financial aid). The fact that you are bothered by which parents have contributed to a stupid class party and the fact that some parents haven't paid their $25 but their kid nonetheless gets to have a cookie means you have some serious issues.

- room mom

This isn't true at all. And private school is not even relevant. You ask for donations or money and families choose if they give or don't give. I find the lower income families far more generous than the higher income families. It really depends on the school and actual class. Some year we have very generous parents and other years we don't. Last year we had three generous parents which is how we started doing pizza as one asked/volunteered to buy and bought it for all the parties. Other years we can barely get plates and napkins and as a room parent I pay. You shouldn't sign up to be a room parent if you are going to complain you have to treat all the kids the same even if they have rich stingy/selfish parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do kids need pizza at their parties? LOL..

Pretzels, popcorn, and some carrot sticks. $5. You're welcome!

You are getting ripped off if all you are getting is pretzels, popcorn and carrots for $5. For $5, I can do fruit, pizza, desert and pretzels or other snacks per child. They don't need it, they don't need parties but it just makes it more fun for them. Learn to spend money on a budget. You can do a lot with a little money. Or have parents donate the food. Usually there are 1-2 happy to purchase the more expensive things.