Anonymous
Post 06/20/2016 15:41     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Anonymous wrote:Our upper NW DCPS asks for a student support fee each year of between $500-1000 per kid.
I've never paid it despite having the money and contributing approx $20-30K a year to other charities.
It just rubs me the wrong way---the idea that we (the wealthy) can subsidize our public education.
I do spend money at the auction but somehow this seems different and better than just handing over the cash.
I'd rather subsidize schools across the park than hand over a few thousand to my school in the form of the student support fee.
Anyone else feel the same way? (and can articulate this better?) I can't even put my finger on it exactly but the idea of paying
this money just feels yucky.


Bizarre. I did not pay when I could not afford it - and I found the aggressive ask annoying. However,once I had more money I supported my childs schools in a variety of ways. Those without money can support a school with volunteering, potlucks etc.
If I had your money I would support my kids school AND schools across the park. I would donate for specific things in that case, so I did not go into a slush fund. I can think of no better charity than education in DC. I find your idea of egalitarianism by sitting out a little mixed up, but its your money.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2016 14:54     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Eh, I don't pay the fee at our upper NW school either. I pay the field trip fee and contribute to the teacher gift requests, but I don't think the kids need a smartboard in every class and carts full of Apple computers and since no one asks my opinion, I voice it this way. I give the equivalent to a charity that provides food and other support to low income families in the city.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2016 13:55     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, why do you send your kids to this school? Do you ever attend an HSA meeting to discuss how much the student fee is and how it is spent? Do you ever discuss it with other parents at your school and make an effort to change the way the money is spent? Do you ever make it known to the teachers that your child doesn't need the extras you mention?


Because i live in the neighborhood. I'm not going to 1) sell my house over this issue at the cost of $100K in real estate transactions 2) drive my kids to another school over this issue when they can walk to this one.


If you cared about poor kids so much, you'd certainly do something of tangible value (acting as a cheap weirdo doesnt count). Adopt one or two such kids? Launch a new charter school? Send your kids to a failing school and help refloat it?




Seriously, PP? You sound a little crazy. Because actual charitable donations are worthless in your view, in order to prove she cares about poor children she needs to: adopt, start a school, or send her children to another school. Um, wow.

Is that what you do for charity? Nevermind donations of cash, you go straight to adoption?

Methinks you are a hypocrite.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2016 13:28     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
really OP? You spend 30k already but can't fork over cash to the PTA? I would much rather just write a check to the PTA then deal with all the non stop fundraisers for crap people don't really want.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2016 08:09     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You're welcome to donate to our EOTP school. The Title 1 funds cover additional mental health type positions (school counselor, psychologist, etc.), but don't do much for enrichment. Extra $$ would be great for field trips, aftercare enrichment, and more.


When faced with this issue at our affluent eotp school, I just donated a lot to other teachers at other schools and their gofundme projects. It was really nice to feel like I was making a difference, and not just subsidizing another parent's pet project.


I think it's fine for you not to contribute, OP. We all give in ways that are meaningful to us personally. FYI, Cleveland Elementary in Shaw is facing a budget shortfall. They have to raise $30,000 or choose between classroom supplies or a staff member. There are already few (really, almost none) after school enrichment activities. The PTA has raised about $10k already. You might consider donating there. Despite what folks on this board think, Title I schools are not rolling in it, and they offer their students significantly less beyond the bare bones than WOTP schools. You should donate where you think your money can be most impactful, and no one should guilt you about how you define that.


CORRECTION: They already chose to keep staff and now have to raise the $30k for supplies. The staff were either the science teacher or the reading specialist. The supplies aren't just for the art classes. We're talking copy paper (200 cases) for the entire school, pencils, hand soap and toilet paper for the bathrooms. Fundraising at a Title I school, where only a very few are able to write checks to support this effort has been challenging. Nobody wants to see the teachers sabotaged by a well-intentioned decision to support reading school-wide and allow every student a day (am/pm) of science education each week. Honestly, send that $1,000 to Cleveland with "DCUM" on the memo line.


That's what our school does too. Let the principal use the budget for staff, then the parents supply the supplies, like soap, copy paper, cleaning supplies, etc. -- some from PTA and some as a first day of school "please bring" for every kid.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2016 03:05     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You're welcome to donate to our EOTP school. The Title 1 funds cover additional mental health type positions (school counselor, psychologist, etc.), but don't do much for enrichment. Extra $$ would be great for field trips, aftercare enrichment, and more.


When faced with this issue at our affluent eotp school, I just donated a lot to other teachers at other schools and their gofundme projects. It was really nice to feel like I was making a difference, and not just subsidizing another parent's pet project.


I think it's fine for you not to contribute, OP. We all give in ways that are meaningful to us personally. FYI, Cleveland Elementary in Shaw is facing a budget shortfall. They have to raise $30,000 or choose between classroom supplies or a staff member. There are already few (really, almost none) after school enrichment activities. The PTA has raised about $10k already. You might consider donating there. Despite what folks on this board think, Title I schools are not rolling in it, and they offer their students significantly less beyond the bare bones than WOTP schools. You should donate where you think your money can be most impactful, and no one should guilt you about how you define that.


CORRECTION: They already chose to keep staff and now have to raise the $30k for supplies. The staff were either the science teacher or the reading specialist. The supplies aren't just for the art classes. We're talking copy paper (200 cases) for the entire school, pencils, hand soap and toilet paper for the bathrooms. Fundraising at a Title I school, where only a very few are able to write checks to support this effort has been challenging. Nobody wants to see the teachers sabotaged by a well-intentioned decision to support reading school-wide and allow every student a day (am/pm) of science education each week. Honestly, send that $1,000 to Cleveland with "DCUM" on the memo line.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2016 01:44     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Good thing you're anon, OP. Some of these "ladies" would cut you if they got the chance and could get away with it. All in the name of community-mindedness of course.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2016 01:07     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You're welcome to donate to our EOTP school. The Title 1 funds cover additional mental health type positions (school counselor, psychologist, etc.), but don't do much for enrichment. Extra $$ would be great for field trips, aftercare enrichment, and more.


When faced with this issue at our affluent eotp school, I just donated a lot to other teachers at other schools and their gofundme projects. It was really nice to feel like I was making a difference, and not just subsidizing another parent's pet project.


I think it's fine for you not to contribute, OP. We all give in ways that are meaningful to us personally. FYI, Cleveland Elementary in Shaw is facing a budget shortfall. They have to raise $30,000 or choose between classroom supplies or a staff member. There are already few (really, almost none) after school enrichment activities. The PTA has raised about $10k already. You might consider donating there. Despite what folks on this board think, Title I schools are not rolling in it, and they offer their students significantly less beyond the bare bones than WOTP schools. You should donate where you think your money can be most impactful, and no one should guilt you about how you define that.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2016 20:32     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Anonymous wrote:Do both.

Donate to your school (because COME ON - your kid is still getting those benefits, and you should pay your share since you can afford it).

AND then, call one of the PTAs EOTP - pick one, doesn't matter. HD Cooke. Eastern. College. Tubman. Powell. West. Banneker. Heck, any of the KIPPS. And give them one thousand dollars. It will mean a TON to them.


$1,000 is pocket change for KIPP. Check out their financials on the charter board website. They'll take the donation, and will put it to good use, but they are doing very well financially compared to other charter schools.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2016 13:54     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
I want to clarify one point: those aids you see in the classroom for children with special needs are absolutely NOT paid for by hsa or pta. They are funded by dcps according to federal law. None of student support fees are funding anything exclusively for the special education department of these schools.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2016 09:24     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Anonymous wrote:OP, you seem to be looking to pick an odd battle. If the best you can come up with in describing your views is that it "feels yucky" you must know your full of shit. Somehow have annual income that allows you to donate tens of thousands of dollars but your unwilling to recognize the value of throwing some money into a pot that helps your child. And his/her classmates? Ugh. Please just go private or move out of the District already. This might be a shocker to you, but DC does not typically pay for all the bells and whistles that many WOTP schools have been able to bring to their schools that to you seem like standard practice because families before you worked their butts off to get them. All you have to do is write a check, which you are clearly able to do. Please devote you energy to more worthy arguments.


She asked a simple question. Why do you have to be such a jerk?
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2016 23:19     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
OP, are you at all involved in how much money s suggested and/or how it a spent? Do you opt your kids out of the activities that you consider unnecessary?

Do you complain about your elected representatives even though you never vote?
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2016 12:34     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Anonymous wrote:You're welcome to donate to our EOTP school. The Title 1 funds cover additional mental health type positions (school counselor, psychologist, etc.), but don't do much for enrichment. Extra $$ would be great for field trips, aftercare enrichment, and more.


When faced with this issue at our affluent eotp school, I just donated a lot to other teachers at other schools and their gofundme projects. It was really nice to feel like I was making a difference, and not just subsidizing another parent's pet project.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2016 10:48     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
You're welcome to donate to our EOTP school. The Title 1 funds cover additional mental health type positions (school counselor, psychologist, etc.), but don't do much for enrichment. Extra $$ would be great for field trips, aftercare enrichment, and more.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2016 10:24     Subject: "student support fees" in upper NW DCPS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, why do you send your kids to this school? Do you ever attend an HSA meeting to discuss how much the student fee is and how it is spent? Do you ever discuss it with other parents at your school and make an effort to change the way the money is spent? Do you ever make it known to the teachers that your child doesn't need the extras you mention?


Because i live in the neighborhood. I'm not going to 1) sell my house over this issue at the cost of $100K in real estate transactions 2) drive my kids to another school over this issue when they can walk to this one.


If you cared about poor kids so much, you'd certainly do something of tangible value (acting as a cheap weirdo doesnt count). Adopt one or two such kids? Launch a new charter school? Send your kids to a failing school and help refloat it?