Finance and Fundraising
This committee is planning a fundraising event to both raise money and unify our efforts. Other issues include asking for start-up funding from the feeder schools. Priorities for spending are not defined yet, but an obvious candidate is a possible second playground or other outdoor play components.
If we decide we need to subsidize the playground, there are economies of scale we can take advantage of if we order and install extra equipment at the same time the basic equipment is installed. To be able to do this, we need to begin fundraising now. Some time around February or March of 2003 we will have to have the money available. Estimates range from $30K and up. We will revise this number based on the research of the playground selection committee.
Budget Preparation
The committee has received input from feeder schools’ treasurers and appropriations committees to determine the budgetary needs from now until June 30, 2003 and from July 1, 2003 until June 30, 2004. The PTA/PTO budget year runs from July to June.
Similarly, the committee is developing an income plan to support the budgetary needs. Major sources of income include fundraisers and seed money from the feeder school PTA/PTO’s. The PTA/PTO’s are discussing formulas for determining each school’s contribution to the new school.
Accounting
The county will set up a reporting mechanism to track cash receipts and expenditures for the new school. The committee is determining the constraints and procedures necessary to optimize this arrangement. Once the boundaries are determined, we can establish either a PTA or PTO and raise money under our own organization.
Giant and Safeway Scrips
Research about the grocery store scrips programs is being conducted. We may begin targeting neighbors who don’t have children in school and families not currently participating in their school’s scrips programs. We are thinking of rolling out this program slowly so as to learn the ropes of processing orders.
To our knowledge, Forestville and Spring Hill participate. Great Falls and Westbriar do not. Our researcher is talking to participating schools to determine best practices and issues. Spring Hill raises on the order of $17K per year with 20% of the families participating.
General Mills Box Tops
Target neighbors who don’t have children in school and families not currently participating in their school’s Box Top program. Some box tops expire soon: turn them in to an existing school. Newer box tops don’t expire until 2005! We can’t get funds from this program until we have an open school.
For more information about the box tops program visit the program site: http://boxtops4education.com/works/rules.asp
Giant and Safeway Receipts
Giant A+ [http://www.giantfood.com/bonuscard_aplus.htm] requires that a school be open before they will accept receipts. We do not know about Safeway yet. The more people who participate in our current schools, the more the current schools might be able to consider as seed money.
Book Fair
The possibility of a summer book fair was also discussed.
The committee will explore other successful fundraisers used by the feeder schools.
Questions? email [email protected].
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