There's also a FCPS-Booster contract. It stipulates the background checks required of the Booster folks, for example. And when under contract, Booster is allowed to use school time for fundraising in accordance with FCPS regulations 8420 and 8424 (tho' I haven't yet looked at those).

I've asked for access to that contract. Stay tuned...

The 8420 and 8424 only apply to using the facilities after- hours. The sponsoring organization has to prove insurance coverage. Do you know where to find these?
Fcps website
School Board
Policies and regulations
There are p, n, and r's. You want the r's for the specifics for this. Sometimes the n's have the most updated fee schedules for the year.

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's also a FCPS-Booster contract. It
> stipulates the background checks required of the
> Booster folks, for example. And when under
> contract, Booster is allowed to use school time
> for fundraising in accordance with FCPS
> regulations 8420 and 8424 (tho' I haven't yet
> looked at those).
>
> I've asked for access to that contract. Stay
> tuned...

Volunteers don't have to have a background check if they have a child attending the school. Registered sex offenders or people who have been convicted of a crime against children can't volunteer. Sounds like the honor system on that. Some school systems require a full background check for all volunteers going on overnight trips. Not a bad idea.

If they don't have a child in the school and will be doing volunteering without direct contact with the kids or will be supervised directly by staff, they don't get checked.

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's also a FCPS-Booster contract. It
> stipulates the background checks required of the
> Booster folks, for example. And when under
> contract, Booster is allowed to use school time
> for fundraising in accordance with FCPS
> regulations 8420 and 8424 (tho' I haven't yet
> looked at those).
>
> I've asked for access to that contract. Stay
> tuned...


Do you mean FCPS-Booster contract, or FCPS-Boosterthon contract? They are very different.

Here is some of the information New Horizon is looking for. First of all, if the PTA/PTO signed the contract, that is a whole different ballgame. Only Fairfax County non-profits can conduct fundraisers on school grounds. However, there is information on use of a third party to fundraise. Boosterthon has to have a contract with either the school system or the parent group. So, which is it? The 8424 looks like it refers to camps, classes, etc. And those are outside of school hours. Boosterthon can't just rent out the school and do a fundraiser. Somebody has to contract with them.

Until they change the fundraising regulation to allow the school system to use instructional hours and school hours to fundraise (aside from one assembly per year to present information), use of these hours is probably not an option. All the hours during the school day count. They might be used for assemblies, etc., but they count. They could still do Boosterthon outside of school hours, like right after school. The parents would have to make alternate transportation arrangements for their children to get home, as the elementary schools don't have late buses.

And here is your background check information.
Attachments:

Dear New Horizon- Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do you mean FCPS-Booster contract, or
> FCPS-Boosterthon contract? They are very
> different.

I was originally talking about the contract between Booster Enterprises and the PTA. Questions came up about the presumed (I think) lack of contract between Booster Enterprises and FCPS. Today, I was directed to the latter which can be found here:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cregister/ContractDetails.aspx?contractNumber=4400003780

(I haven't yet read through it.)

This is a work in progress.
Why am I not surprised.






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Reaves, Brandynn [mailto:bareaves@fcps.edu]
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2015 3:31 PM


Dear :



This serves as the response to your request for the most current draft of the revision of Regulation 1370, received December 22, 2014, pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.


The draft of regulation 1370 is protected under the attorney work client privilege and withheld is in its entirety, pursuant to Va. Code § 2.2-3705.1.2.



Sincerely,





Brandynn Reaves

Public Information Specialist

Dept of Communications & Community Outreach

Fairfax County Public Schools

T +1 571-423-1200 | F +1 571-423-1207

1.3 The Contractor shall not disengage students from instructional class time for any purpose related to the fund-raiser.

17.3 If the fund-raising activity is being conducted by the school or a school-sponsored organization, the school shall maintain a record of all sales, and all receipts shall be accounted for in the school activity fund account. At the completion of the fundraising activity, a payment shall be made to the vendor, less the profit due to the school

PTA/O's are NOT school-sponsored organizations. So, why is money from Boosterthon showing up on a PTA/O budget sheet? The money is supposed to be in a school account.

XII. SCHOOL-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS – BOOSTERS AND PTA/PTOs
Parent-teacher organizations (PTA/PTOs), booster clubs, and foundations are neither
school-sponsored clubs nor student-initiated clubs. Booster clubs and PTA/PTOs are
independent entities from the school division but may be recognized as “school-related
organizations.”

The school system holds the contract. The parent clubs are NOT school-sponsored. Who are you writing the checks to for payment for the laps?

The White Oaks budget is online:

http://www.whiteoakspta.net/uploads/2/7/1/8/27180197/final_budget_2013-14.pdf

1.10 "Cold-call" style telephone solicitation by students for fund-raising activities is prohibited. Students may contact friends and relatives by telephone to request their participation in fundraising activities.

This is basically what R1370 says too. But these needs updating. Although cold calls are prohibited - clearly with children's safety and security in mind - Booster gets around this by encouraging K-6 kids to solicit funds by putting themselves out on YouTube, etc. instead.
http://www.boosterthon.com/pledgesecrets/

I am not putting a six year old out on you tube to sell stuff.

anybody have an answer? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The school system holds the contract. The parent
> clubs are NOT school-sponsored. Who are you
> writing the checks to for payment for the laps?

Good question. I think I myself sent in cash. The contract with the PTA says "Booster shall retain from the collected funds, or the Client shall cause to be paid, as applicable..."


I know you know this, but just as an aside and for the benefit of onlookers who might be reviewing the FCPS regs, let's keep in mind that Booster Enterprises is NOT a booster club, but a for-profit organization.

So are there Fcps sponsored fun runs and fun runs that the PTA/O independently contracts for? Why? If it is during the school day, it should be under the Fcps contract. If they were doing something after school or on the weekend then the parent group would be operating under their own contract.

The money should run through a school account if it done during the day, and a PTA/O account for the others, right?

Thanks for posting the contract. We needed that.

Huh??????? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So are there Fcps sponsored fun runs and fun runs
> that the PTA/O independently contracts for? Why?
> If it is during the school day, it should be under
> the Fcps contract. If they were doing something
> after school or on the weekend then the parent
> group would be operating under their own contract.
>
>
> The money should run through a school account if
> it done during the day, and a PTA/O account for
> the others, right?
>
> Thanks for posting the contract. We needed that.

Let's change that to "COULD" be operating under their own contract after school or on the weekend. You can have school sponsored stuff after hours and on the weekend.

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dallas mom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > But, I would much appreciate it if people
> posting
> > on this website would mind their manners and
> > improve their vocabularies.
>
> While I share your sentiment, please understand
> that regardless of topic, you'll encounter a lot
> of rudeness, trolling, and vulgarities anywhere at
> fairfaxunderground.com. That's just the nature of
> the place you're visiting.
>
> While were on the topic of religion - and at the
> risk of changing your mind - altho' the
> Boosterthon web site says they're not affiliated
> with any religious group, their proceeds support
> their summer "missions" which included partnering
> with Kenya Medical Outreach to provide safe water
> in Kenya and with Helping Hands Ministries to
> provide playgrounds to schools in Guatemala. The
> mission of both of these organizations is to
> spread the Word of Jesus. I don't object to
> spreading the Word of Jesus. But when the money
> trail starts in the homes of the unwitting
> families of our PUBLIC school students, that's a
> problem. (For it's part, FCPS doesn't seem to
> mind so long as it doesn't compromise the safety
> and security of the kids. And anyway, I don't
> know that FCPS can have a say over what Booster
> does with their profits.)

Thank you, I understand, this is like walking into a rowdy bar on the wrong side of town for a woman. But I was raised with 4 brothers so don't worry, I can handle it. All I was saying was that you might should watch your language because it can hurt your message, which is a good one.
God's Grace is in you and HE is working through you, preventing evildoers from leading the lambs to the slaughter. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
I don't think it is appropriate either for public school raised money to go to missions. We like our freedom and we don't want the government interfering with our right to worship as we please. Our church receives donations of hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, and none of it comes through things like fun runs, people just give from their hearts for the right reasons, and the Sunday collections support the Bible School for the kids. So you can support a school by people just giving from the heart...all you have to do is ask. There is no need to pay anybody 50% of the proceeds to handle fundraising for our churches or schools.
God bless You.

I found this website because our school had the fun run two weeks ago and I was looking to see about this company because we pledged and thought that we would pay only small amount like $20. I was confused because White Oak Elementary is in California. But we has the Apex fun run not Boosterthon.

We are not rich. Like many childrens in our school, ours are on free lunch. at least 25% of our families live below the poverty level. So, our kids ran 35 laps and we owe a fortune to the company. We did not expect this. Not only can we not afford to pay, nobody told us that the bill would be so high. You cannot figure out what your bill will be from what they send home.

Now I read this, and you are telling me that the Apex fun run is going to take half the money I donate if we sacrifice other needs to try to pay the fun run bill? I don't think anyone at our school is aware of this. How could they do this if they knew?

This seems like a scam. Who is looking out for my family, who is looking out for my kids? How could the school let Apex take half our money? We work hard for our money.

Fundraising regulation update Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is a work in progress.
> Why am I not surprised.

Well the R1370 review process is probably taking a lot longer than most since they're also trying to fold in the results of their Internal Audit of fundraising processes which in turn touches on a number of other regulations (R8420, R8424, R5810, R3014, R1375) and other published FCPS guidance.

...This may take a while...

On the plus side - tho' I don't really know - you may still have time to contact your School Board representative with your suggestions. I think somebody posted something here to the effect that FCPS is closed to new Boosterthon comments. But so far, my suggestions to them appear to have been accepted, altho' with very little in the way of a reply.

Or you can just sit there and kvetch online. :)
.

Simi Valley Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We are not rich. Like many childrens in our
> school, ours are on free lunch. at least 25% of
> our families live below the poverty level.

Right, so imagine one of these parents deciding to opt their kids out of the Fun Run because the efficiency of the contributions are too low. But their kid comes home excitedly asking to participate because they want to raise enough funds to win a scooter - a scooter that the parents can't afford to buy. That'd be a tough spot for a parent to be put in. Thank you, Apex. Thank you, Booster. Thank you, PTA.

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fundraising regulation update Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This is a work in progress.
> > Why am I not surprised.
>
> Well the R1370 review process is probably taking a
> lot longer than most since they're also trying to
> fold in the results of their Internal Audit of
> fundraising processes which in turn touches on a
> number of other regulations (R8420, R8424, R5810,
> R3014, R1375) and other published FCPS guidance.
>
> ...This may take a while...
>
> On the plus side - tho' I don't really know - you
> may still have time to contact your School Board
> representative with your suggestions. I think
> somebody posted something here to the effect that
> FCPS is closed to new Boosterthon comments. But
> so far, my suggestions to them appear to have been
> accepted, altho' with very little in the way of a
> reply.
>
> Or you can just sit there and kvetch online. :)
> .

Oh they frequently don't give you any replies and nothing in life is ever completely closed. Don't fall for that. You just keep at it.

I want to know why some contracts are signed by parent groups when there is a school system contract. And the money should stay with the entity having the contract. Is it? Overhead is part of the game with any fundraiser. When you purchase overpriced nuts, etc., you are contributing to a company's profit. You get nuts out of it, but they still make a profit. That is why they are called fundraisers.

FCPS is reading every posting. Don't kid yourself. They even have some staff posting carefully prepared stuff. This is a great place to bring up issues. I wonder who is assigned to monitor this forum. Not a day goes by that something isn't posted about the school system.

As far as the agony and aggravation when your kids come home wanting you to buy something so they can get a prize, welcome to parenthood. This is a plot to drive you insane.

Fairfax is contracting with Boosterthon for:

1) Character, leadership, and fitness assembly

2) Daily lessons on character, leadership, and fitness

3) Fun run fitness event where the laps to towards the pledges

Taxpayers need to make a lot of noise about this-schools are already being paid to do some of this, and now along comes Boosterthon.

Here's the offending, and offensive, paragraph:
Attachments:

Not only "...along comes Boosterthon", but Boosterthon staff is supported by child-generated funds to redundantly cover these topics.

About that FCPS contract: FCPS says that since FCPS doesn't pay Booster, they're out of the loop and are unaware of how many schools use Booster. If there's a violation of this contract, it's up to the school principal - who has oversight regardless of how the vendor was contracted - to report the violation to the FCPS Procurement Office.

Boosterthon will deploy Brett Trapp to solve the problem. It took him 5 years to get a degree in English, but cut the brother some slack, he spent a lot of time running ATO in Alabama.

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> About that FCPS contract: FCPS says that since
> FCPS doesn't pay Booster, they're out of the loop
> and are unaware of how many schools use Booster.
> If there's a violation of this contract, it's up
> to the school principal - who has oversight
> regardless of how the vendor was contracted - to
> report the violation to the FCPS Procurement
> Office.


If FCPS has the contract with the Booster company, they should be able to contact Booster company and ask for a printout of the schools that have used the FCPS contract. That is part of their business agreement. They had to supply staff, etc. ALL the records relating to Booster supplying services under the FCPS contract are public record, but you have to get them from FCPS. You should be able to ask to see the full accounting information that Booster has related to the FCPS Booster contract, including all commissions paid, revenue, staff names that worked at the schools, etc. There should be a very specific breakdown easily available. Extensive records. You have to be very firm with these people.

If the principals are allowing the money to run through a PTA/O account instead of running it through their school account, even when the activity is on their contract, that is an FCPS regulatory violation and they are not following their contract instructions and they need to be called on that. Booster probably won't be involved with that. As long as they get their money, they could probably care less. If the principals are doing this, you have the right to ask to see the PTA/O banking records associated with the Booster money that the principal is allowing to be handled by a group other than the school system. Those are still school activity funds, just held by an outside party. The principal can get them from the PTA/O. Trust me. This has been done many times in other situations. They know the deal.

They tend to wander and point fingers and dodge responsibilities. You have to be persistent.

The PTA/O contracts won't be in the information. They don't/shouldn't operate under the FCPS Booster contract. They can contract independently, but I don't think they are supposed to do this during the school day, since the day is controlled by the school system. Or it SHOULD be controlled by the school system.

Now the question comes up about whether FCPS is in trouble allowing PTA/O groups to independently contract with Booster and do this during the school day. Is there an exclusive clause in there of some type?

simple simon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...
> You should be able to ask to see the full accounting...
> ...
> You have to be very firm with these people.
> ...
> You have to be persistent.
> ...

Me...me...me...?

The chances of all these things happening are diminished if I'm the only one doing the footwork.

Let's go page by page on that contract. This is from strictly school of hard knocks experience.

Notice of contract award-The agreement is between FCPS and Booster Enterprises, Inc. It covers until June 30, 2014, with three annual renewal options. A purchase order must be issued before services can be rendered. (No PTA/O on here.)

Page 1-No disengagement from instructional class time, confidentiality stuff, no door to door for elementary kids, the contractor is responsible for supplying staff and what they do.

Page 2-Group competition designed to pressure individuals to participate is prohibited. No cold calling. The contractor supplies samples, order forms, etc. Only certain people at FCPS may order services. Any purchase ordered or contract made which is contrary to these provisions and authorities shall be of no effect and void and not be binding on FCPS. (This means Susie PTA president can't call up and order a Fun Run under the FCPS contract.)

Page 3- The only way to place an order is with a PO or an approved county procurement card. (PTA/O's don't do those.)

Page 4- payment and delivery terms.

Page 5- Contractor shall provide each school a written report of the entire order and a financial summary that details everything with the transaction. All funds collected by the school are to be maintained in an internal school account until things are wrapped up. (Which NewHorizon can ask to see.) The contractor shall maintain extensive records for up to three years after the completion of the contract and make these records available to Fairfax County. (In case NewHorizon wants to see them.) If the activity is conducted by the school or a school sponsored organization (which a PTA/O is not) the SCHOOL shall maintain extensive records and keep the funds in the school account, and then pay the vendor. (And everybody has the right to see those.) If the vendor conducts the activity, they have to maintain a record of sales to substantiate the gross revenue. Payment of profit shall then be made from the vendor to the school at the end.

page 6- Fairfax doesn't have to pay certain taxes. The contractor has to have insurance and handle their own problems. Only the Purchasing Agent can make any changes.

Page 7- The contractor shall not allow somebody else to do their work without the written consent of the purchasing agent. Termination terms.

page 8-contractor agrees to do the work as they promise and have Fairfax County inspect and approve their work and if they don't do it right Fairfax County doesn't have to pay them.

page 9- County officials can't benefit from this, Booster has to be licensed with the county and registered with the State, and some other stuff.

page 10- Delays, disputes, compliance with laws, HIPAA.

page 11-no discriminating, no drugs, ADA stuff, no use of unauthorized aliens, etc.

page 12- Background and criminal issues.

page 13- They are a small business and not owned by a woman or a minority.

page 14- Booster keeps 48% and does daily lessons on character, leadership, and fitness, etc.

-----------------------


If a principal asks the PTA/O to help him/her out and process the checks and other payments through their bank account (this has been done with numerous other situations and is a really bad idea so don't rule it out and don't laugh) they retain the responsibility for what goes on and those records are the official records. FCPS HAS TO PRODUCE THEM UPON REQUEST from a citizen. This has been done numerous times before in other situations. They know the drill, even though they might not want to admit it and might try to weasel their way out of it.

If the PTA/O has the contract and the principal is allowing them to do this during the instructional day, I don't have the answer for that. I think you could probably make a major scene about this because it was during the school day, so you should be able to see records, especially since FCPS has a contract. I think that would be considered a really bad move on the part of the principal since the school system has a contract all drawn up for him/her and they ignored it, but they aren't going to want to admit that. They aren't supposed to be undermining school policies and things, but they do anyway, and it always makes for an ugly situation.

You certainly should be able to ask for all the records Booster has regarding the contract with FCPS, or narrow it down to certain things like which schools utilized the contract (and then you could ask for the records from those particular schools). They have to keep them for three years. That would actually be very interesting.

Good luck. They are all reading this so they all know what's coming.

Ask to see all the purchase orders issued under this contract.

Ask to see the competitive criteria for the character lessons. Ask for the credentials of the Boosterthon people.

Brett Trapp, Boosterthon mouthpiece, makes a big deal of how facial hair is prohibited at Boosterthon. What does that say about "teachers" who might be Jews, Muslims, or Sikhs?

Google "LinkedIn" and "Boosterthon" and you'll see some scary backgrounds.

PTA/O and other parent groups, etc. aren't even eligible to reserve a school facility or grounds during the school day. Look at page 9. So, how can they sign a contract with Booster and show up during the school day to do a fun run under their own contract? They don't have the right to be there.
Attachments:

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> About that FCPS contract: FCPS says that since
> FCPS doesn't pay Booster, they're out of the loop
> and are unaware of how many schools use Booster.
> If there's a violation of this contract, it's up
> to the school principal - who has oversight
> regardless of how the vendor was contracted - to
> report the violation to the FCPS Procurement
> Office.




Why doesn't FCPS pay Booster? The contract says they do.

Do these people work for free? Don't think so.
Attachments:

Simi Valley Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I found this website because our school had the
> fun run two weeks ago and I was looking to see
> about this company because we pledged and thought
> that we would pay only small amount like $20. I
> was confused because White Oak Elementary is in
> California. But we has the Apex fun run not
> Boosterthon.
>
> We are not rich. Like many childrens in our
> school, ours are on free lunch. at least 25% of
> our families live below the poverty level. So, our
> kids ran 35 laps and we owe a fortune to the
> company. We did not expect this. Not only can we
> not afford to pay, nobody told us that the bill
> would be so high. You cannot figure out what your
> bill will be from what they send home.
>
> Now I read this, and you are telling me that the
> Apex fun run is going to take half the money I
> donate if we sacrifice other needs to try to pay
> the fun run bill? I don't think anyone at our
> school is aware of this. How could they do this if
> they knew?
>
> This seems like a scam. Who is looking out for my
> family, who is looking out for my kids? How could
> the school let Apex take half our money? We work
> hard for our money.

Hey guys, bottom line is nobody is looking out for you or your kids, not apex, not your school district, not your principal....u r on your own, ya know.
No worries, just trash that email bill Apex sent you. You do not have to pay it. It is a pledge not a contract. Really, save your money, pay your rent and go buy some food or take the kids to the NY Pizza Factory for dinner tonight. Or, you could take the same $200-300 apex probably trying to beat out of you and instead take the family to Disneyland or Sea World for the weekend if you can afford it. Treat yourselves to a romantic dinner and a babysitter for valentine's day tomorrow night, anything, just don't give your hard earned cash to the fun run scam because you might as well just set fire to half the cash that Apex is going to pocket as profits. Take care of your family...nobody else is going to care about you, and your kids will be better off.

Simi Valley Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...nobody told us that the bill would be so high.
> ...
> I don't think anyone at our school is aware of
> this. How could they do this if they knew?

At a PTA mtg, I asked something like, "What would be the downside of proactively informing our contributors of the percentage at the time of contribution?"

The president replied (paraphrasing), "OK, I'll say it. We'd have fewer contributions."

Way to respect your contributors, PTA.

It could be that since Boosterthon takes a "cut" and gets $2K from the PTA, there are no FCPS payments. The contract must be **part** of the arrangement whereby the PTA gets to bring the Booster-ites into the schools.

This needs to be an issue in the upcoming school board elections. I will not vote for any member supporting Boosterthon!

brett trapp, man of mystery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It could be that since Boosterthon takes a "cut"
> and gets $2K from the PTA, there are no FCPS
> payments. The contract must be **part** of the
> arrangement whereby the PTA gets to bring the
> Booster-ites into the schools.
>
> This needs to be an issue in the upcoming school
> board elections. I will not vote for any member
> supporting Boosterthon!


The "cut" is supposed to come out of the money processed through internal accounts based on the above contract. There is no apparent "joint" arrangement between Fcps and pta or o and booster enterprises.

Anybody care to explain what has been going on? When is the next meeting or principal coffee?

Anybody ever figure out if the pledge money was going to a school, a parent group, or straight to boosterthon? It sounds like the money was going to either the school or the parent group, who then cuts a check to boosterthon.

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Simi Valley Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ...nobody told us that the bill would be so
> high.
> > ...
> > I don't think anyone at our school is aware of
> > this. How could they do this if they knew?
>
> At a PTA mtg, I asked something like, "What would
> be the downside of proactively informing our
> contributors of the percentage at the time of
> contribution?"
>
> The president replied (paraphrasing), "OK, I'll
> say it. We'd have fewer contributions."
>
> Way to respect your contributors, PTA.

It gets much worse. Just wait.

anybody have an answer? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Who are you writing the checks to for payment for the laps?


If you go to any child's funrun.com page (here's a random one: https://funrun.com/sponsor/0d1b82367e707426011917a8de4799e9c1e99378 ) and click the square "Help" button, you'll be presented with a FAQ:

"9. Who do I make checks out to?
Please make checks payable to Embassy Creek PTA. They appreciate your generosity!"

That is a different school system. Where are the checks being written to in this county system?

http://www.fcps.edu/eagleviewes/

2-19-2015

million $ ? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That is a different school system. Where are the
> checks being written to in this county system?

You seem awfully unresourceful for someone with such a keen interest in this stuff...

https://funrun.com/sponsor/a6e4b79384c682a557a87a8c8e2e1bed07682c6d
Checks payable to Lemon Road PTA
( http://www.fcps.edu/LemonRoadES/ )

https://funrun.com/sponsor/86964b4f79b7d97ade14d4ea1b318965fff42c74
Checks payable to Daniel's Run PTA
( http://www.fcps.edu/DanielsRunES/ )

You may want to double-check to be sure I'm not confusing these schools with any other schools of the same name in other parts of the country. But I'm rather confident I have them correctly identified.

You are the primary sleuth. I am just curious and starting discussion.

So, this is where we are so far.

Fcps has a contract with Booster. PTA/O is not in there anywhere. In fact the contract even says that if any other agreement or contract is made, that it does not bind the county.

The contract says the money is supposed to run through internal Fcps accounts. Booster is supposed to supply and retain complete records for Fcps.

The contract says the same thing as the regulation-no interruption of instructional time.

Fcps says they don't pay Boosters, even though they have a contract, and that PTA/O's use the facility during the school day for this under the community use regulation, which says the school and grounds are not available during the school day for community use. They even allow Booster personnel access to the children. But, Fcps is not paying them. They don't even have a purchase order going on this, so nothing in the contract probably really applies.

So, it sounds like the PTA/O's must be going and also getting contracts with Booster. Why? We paid a contracting specialist to draw one up for the county. why?

So is there some type of a fantasy arrangement where because Fcps has a contract, even though they are not using it, that makes it OK for this to go on during the school day on school grounds and using instructional hours and staff when the school system is not the sponsor and somebody besides the authorized county personnel have negotiated a deal with Boosterthon?

This is just bizarre.

http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/members/bdmembers.shtml

I would take this whole analysis (particularly the one just above), the contract(s), the communications from FCPS staff, the copies of school regulations (particularly the new 5810 where it says if students are used to generate revenue, the money is supposed to run through a school account), and go here. You already struck out with your principal and your Super, I presume. So, this is the next step.

If you really want to have fun, FOIA the financials on one or two of the fun runs and take the "we don't have any records" along with you when you visit your School Board member. That adds some real Tabasco to the situation.

http://www.fcps.edu/supt/index.shtml

This is also another option. Start with Dr. Lockard.

They lock the doors up there. You will have to make (demand) an appointment.

I can assure you everybody at Gatehouse has already read this thread, so they will be waiting for you with goofy explanations.

I have been asking kids, parents and teachers about boosterthon and so far I have heard no negative opinions. This thread was created by someone who hates boosterthon and hates children.

Million $ ? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So, this is where we are so far.

Let me add that the FCPS-Booster contract, Attachment A says 48% of the gross proceeds goes to Booster. The FCPS-PTA contract, Exhibit B, says that anywhere between 35% and 70% of the proceeds go to Booster.

My theory is that the PTA contract is allowed to control, but the FCPS contract is used just to permit Booster in the school doors during school hours. But yeah, picking which pieces of which contracts are allowed to control which things is pretty strange.

school employee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been asking kids, parents and teachers
> about boosterthon and so far I have heard no
> negative opinions. This thread was created by
> someone who hates boosterthon and hates children.


To see more parent feedback, check out:
https://fundraisingaps.wordpress.com/parents-testimonials/

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Million $ ? Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So, this is where we are so far.
>
> Let me add that the FCPS-Booster contract,
> Attachment A says 48% of the gross proceeds goes
> to Booster. The FCPS-PTA contract, Exhibit B,
> says that anywhere between 35% and 70% of the
> proceeds go to Booster.
>
> My theory is that the PTA contract is allowed to
> control, but the FCPS contract is used just to
> permit Booster in the school doors during school
> hours. But yeah, picking which pieces of which
> contracts are allowed to control which things is
> pretty strange.

There isn't an FCPS-PTA contract, is there? It is a PTO-Booster contract or an FCPS-Booster contract.

How can an outside group control anything during the school day?

How can the FCPS-Booster contract allow Booster in the door if they don't have a purchase order to provide services? The contract doesn't have anything to do with a PTA/O. PTA/O's are clearly not school-sponsored organizations as referenced in the FCPS-Booster contract. Never have been. I would challenge why this allows Booster in the door during the school day. They need to show you something that allows that. In writing.

I told you. If you are serious about this, start climbing/clawing your way up the chain. There might still be fun runs, but I would bet they will have to be after school or on the weekend. Or, the school system will have to bang out a new fundraising regulation to allow use of instructional time for fundraisers, the school system will have to issue a PO, the money will run through the internal accounts.

I don't have any vested interest in whether to continue with Boosterthon, although I do find the whole public prize and competition situation to be tasteless. I just think this is a really interesting arrangement and am really used to pulling school regulations and records and asking difficult questions.

Wait,,,,,,, Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I told you. If you are serious about this, start
> climbing/clawing your way up the chain.

I'm open to guidance and additional resources, but I'm otherwise following my own strategy.

More updates later.

http://www.fcps.edu/fs/comptroller/riskmanagement/factsheets/RM-34.pdf

There really isn't any such thing as co-sponsorship that I can find. FCPS either holds the reins, or not. If they hold the reins, they are the sponsor. You don't have FCPS responsible for some aspects, and the parent group independently responsible for other things. At least according to any printed regulation. It is all or nothing.

Volunteers work under the licenses of the school staff with a school-sponsored event. Every detail of a school-sponsored event falls under the school liability coverage. Every volunteer is also covered under that. Even if they bring in water and snacks for the kiddies, and somebody has an allergic reaction, that falls under the school liability policy. If a child falls and breaks their arm during arm with a school-sponsored event, that issue is between the parents, the school system, and any vendor they contracted with to provide services.

They really need to straighten this out. They are feeding you some unsupported justification.

I daresay the FCPS-Booster contract means absolutely nothing without a purchase order. And if there is a purchase order, the money goes through an internal account. Those are public funds. And that makes the money insured under the multi-million dollar FCPS insurance set-up (commercial policy and self-insurance-they have both). If they allow the parent group to manage the money obtained through services provided under the purchase order, those are public records. Unfortunately, I doubt the FCPS commercial insurance covers the money if a principal allows public funds to be managed in a private bank account, because the funds are not under their direct control, and the principal did not follow stated school policy or contract terms. The principal is responsible for anything they delegate, but just try collecting directly from FCPS if a PTA/O officer embezzles the public funds. That would be quite a scene. Would they utilize their self-insurance to stand behind their decision to funnel the money through a PTA/O bank account instead of one of theirs? Would the PTA/O policy cover public funds running through their bank account? Ha ha ha.

Keep us posted, NewHorizon.

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/44261.html

http://ww2.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=2006

school employee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been asking kids, parents and teachers
> about boosterthon and so far I have heard no
> negative opinions. This thread was created by
> someone who hates boosterthon and hates children.


Yes, the people who have created this thread are just trolls who hate children.

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> school employee Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I have been asking kids, parents and teachers
> > about boosterthon and so far I have heard no
> > negative opinions. This thread was created by
> > someone who hates boosterthon and hates
> children.
>
>
> To see more parent feedback, check out:
> https://fundraisingaps.wordpress.com/parents-testi
> monials/

Who hates kids?
Did you read the testimonials?

I think this thread is going to inspire a lot of people to ask some major questions. It might not be NewHorizon, but maybe some other people who fix this situation.

News coverage - pretty balanced, imho:

http://www.richmond.com/news/local/education/article_f4ba1b6d-ced8-5966-8755-3a188648e2ad.html

(Note there the maximum percentages suggested by Charity Navigator and Charity Watch to be taken by fundraising firms.)

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/parents-question-fundraiser-money-going-schools/nhrWn/

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-10-25/news/ct-met-boosterthon-20131025_1_boosterthon-fun-run-pta-market-day

More parent feedback - this time more local:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/339689.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/412049.page

I haven't read every single one of those posts, though.

(Yes, the NewHorizon there is me.)

"But the company that helped put on the event will take 48 percent of the total money raised, on top of a flat $2,000 fee the PTA paid to get started. The arrangement is laid out in a contract between the PTA and the company.


********The county’s school division is not a party to the agreement."

The county's school division is not a party to the agreement.
The county's school division is not a party to the agreement.
The county's school division is not a party to the agreement.

I think what million dollar question and others are suggesting is that the easiest way to get Boosterthon out of the school day and moved into a less intrusive atmosphere is to nail the school system on the regulatory and contract violations and conflicts. School staff are not supposed to be pitching fundraisers for outside groups. Kids should not be getting homework passes, public accolades in front of their peers during the school day, extra credit for anything, etc. for any type of fundraiser, including those sponsored by the school system. Teachers should not be given a classroom goal for any type of fundraiser, even those that are school-sponsored. School staff are not supposed to allow people in the building and allow them to deal with the children during the school day unless THEY have an active business agreement with them.

It sounds like the PTA and PTO have an active business agreement with Boosterthon, NOT the school system.

No county purchase order=no active business agreement.

What are these people doing in your schools during the school day without one? And if they have a county purchase order on this, the terms of the contract are not being followed by the school system......

Good Stuff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think this thread is going to inspire a lot of
> people to ask some major questions. It might not
> be NewHorizon, but maybe some other people who fix
> this situation.


Boosterthon is doing great, business is at an all time high. They are working in Fauquier and Culpeper counties now.

New Horizon is not the only person digging.

Here is a "fun filled" letter from Angela Atwater, who displays her Ed.D. quite prominently.

I find it unlikely that FCPS does not have access to the contract. Interesting that she does not consider the FCPS contract with Boosterthon to be pertinent information

The review of 1370 and 1375, if ever made public, would no doubt make for interesting read.

The beat goes on.
Attachments:

Nothing is ever closed in life.

Interesting that she admits that the parent group holds the contract for something going on during HER school day and that there is virtually nothing they can do about it. FCPS let them in THEIR front door. Since when do you let somebody in your house and not have control of what they are doing? Since when do let a group of parents and a fundraising company come into a place that is under your control by state law, deal with children that have been entrusted to you under state law, and then say you can't control what they do? And yes, the existing FCPS contract, which is NOT in force, but should be, is not mentioned.

Have they actually read their guidelines? Seems not. Nothing new there.

This is pathetic. They are avoiding their responsibilities.

Don't put up with this.

Is there a way to donate cash to boosterthon?

dad of 2.0 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is there a way to donate cash to boosterthon?

Yes, but probably only while the Boosterthon fundraising program is going on at your school, and I think you'd need to donate it via any one of the kids participating in the Fun Run. Ask your PTA for specific instructions.

But FWIW, during my school's Boosterthon, my PTA accepted a cash donation from me directly to them - that is, 100% kept by them - unrelated to the Boosterthon. Of course the downside of doing that is the kid doesn't get credit for the donation as they try to earn prizes.

But I'm OK with not giving Booster Enterprises their portion and letting a child get the lesser prize while the PTA uses the money to buy whatever is deemed beneficial to the school and its students instead.

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dad of 2.0 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is there a way to donate cash to boosterthon?
>
> Yes, but probably only while the Boosterthon
> fundraising program is going on at your school,
> and I think you'd need to donate it via any one of
> the kids participating in the Fun Run. Ask your
> PTA for specific instructions.
>
> But FWIW, during my school's Boosterthon, my PTA
> accepted a cash donation from me directly to them
> - that is, 100% kept by them - unrelated to the
> Boosterthon. Of course the downside of doing that
> is the kid doesn't get credit for the donation as
> they try to earn prizes.
>
> But I'm OK with not giving Booster Enterprises
> their portion and letting a child get the lesser
> prize while the PTA uses the money to buy whatever
> is deemed beneficial to the school and its
> students instead.

You can also donate straight to the school and specify what it is for. They will show you a receipt for what they did with it. They honor specific requests as long as they are appropriate and doable.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/89SJ9N4C1D77/$file/R5961.pdf

Bypass the middle man.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9EKPV364825C/$file/P5960.pdf

"Each school year, principals will designate no more than one assembly program at which
all school-sponsored fund-raising campaigns will be introduced. No student shall
otherwise be excused from a scheduled class for the purpose of planning or participating
in a fund-raising activity."


So do they justify boosterthon interruptions as "we will just cancel classes, so there aren't classes to be excused from"?

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/86NHVL4A541C/$file/R1320.pdf

They have something specific about interrupting the middle and high school instructional time.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/legacy-content/867S9X2A6815/$FILE/P1375.pdf

Charity drives are not to interrupt the instructional program, either.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/933JDL4CB156/$file/R4423.pdf

The principal can require staff attendance at certain parent-teacher organization activities.

chaity drives Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/le
> gacy-content/867S9X2A6815/$FILE/P1375.pdf
>
> Charity drives are not to interrupt the
> instructional program, either.

Always nice to see somebody else throwing significant time into some research.

And yes, and the Code of Virginia (8VAC20-131-200) says something similar as what you found. The explanation I got - altho' it's still fuzzy to me, is that the school day is divided into three categories: (1) instructional - teachers teach kids, (2) educational - kids work on projects, do their homework, read quietly, etc., (3) free - lunch, recess.

I'm told the Boosterthon activities do not take place during instructional time at school - but rather during educational time. To that end, the majority of the time is spent on the so-called character-building sessions and they save any talk about prize awards until about a minute or so is left in the session. Of course the prize-giving part is the most important to Booster and to the kids. Parents wrote:

"Too young for K-1. didn’t understand the concept. They just wanted the 'prizes'."

"The 'values' that the boosterthon cheerleaders taught my kids in their classroom activities involved how to get the next level toy. They even passed out the 'good' toys to play with before taking them back and telling them to 'go earn it'."

(As for the code of Virginia, I've written to Delegate Jim LeMunyon to ask to do away with what I perceive to be a loophole. But I'm not optimistic. Could use everybody's help here.)

Anyway, beyond what you're finding in the regulations, have a look at section 4.18 of the VA PTA Local Unit Resource Guide.
http://www.vapta.org/local-unit-resource-guide-lurg.html
I think you'll find quotable stuff there. ;)

"I'm told the Boosterthon activities do not take place during instructional time at school - but rather during educational time. To that end, the majority of the time is spent on the so-called character-building sessions and they save any talk about prize awards until about a minute or so is left in the session. Of course the prize-giving part is the most important to Booster and to the kids."

Instructional time, educational time, I don't see a big difference. You have to have staff paid by taxpayers to supervise them while they are reading, doing homework, etc. The regulation specifies children are not to be excused from a class for fundraising. Reading, homework, etc. is part of class time. They are messing with you.

Recess is mandated by the state, also.

I just checked with a very experienced teacher and he said these people are pulling your leg on the instructional and educational time issue. It is all classroom time. You still have staff supervising and guiding. Don't put up with this. They agreed Dr. Atwater's letter was out of line in many respects. Particularly the "this issue is closed". The idea of a non-school group coming in during the school day, taking charge, and bringing in something like this during the school day under their own contract, and the school system saying they don't have any access to a contract on this, is a joke.
What happens during the school day falls under the liability of the school system. If they want to do this, they need to activate their contract, schedule this appropriately, and skip the PTA. Particularly since the new 5810 says any money raised using students has to be recorded in the school internal accounts. Remember, the PTA doesn't have the right to schedule community use during the school day according to the community use regulation.

These people are crazy.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9D9GSR453DD9/$file/P1100.pdf

They are required to maintain AND FOLLOW up-to-date regulations. Surprise.

The PTA guidelines refer to PTA, not PTO. There is a big difference. But, these guidelines do point out that for PTA's, instructional time is not supposed to be disrupted, assemblies to train children to be sales people are not appropriate, the emphasis on being a money-making machine is not appropriate (try telling some people that).

If you are PTO, you don't fall under the big charter. You are independent. It is the Wild West for them. The sky's the limit.

Do you mind if people ask about or post Apex Fun Run complaints on this site? This site won't go away will it? I don't want to post my comments here if it will disappear overnight because the scam is coming to our school and runs for two weeks. It seems like it is mostly about boosterthon but they are the same and this is very informative. I liked the Denver Topix site. There was lots of good research on that. But I can't find it anymore, and I was hoping to get some of those links and information off it to show other parents at my kid's school because Apex is coming to scam it soon and I want everybody to know what it really is. Does anybody know how to find that site? Did the apex fun run pay the fee to have it deleted or what?

I haven't been here at this site a long time, so I'll let others chime in. But I think you're safe. Not sure you'll get much of a Colorado audience here, tho'. But there's a fair chance Apex will notice.

I could only find two pieces of that Denver thread from Google cache:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:SLmMwauKpi0J:www1.topix.com/forum/city/thornton-co/TLTHM3VBC3TRORQ0A%3Flw%3D1+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:SLmMwauKpi0J:www1.topix.com/forum/city/thornton-co/TLTHM3VBC3TRORQ0A%3Flw%3D1+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

The directions say you can post anything that Fairfax would find interesting. Nobody is going to delete mother's posts. There is very little banning on this forum.

Sorry - both those links are the same.

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I haven't been here at this site a long time, so
> I'll let others chime in. But I think you're
> safe. Not sure you'll get much of a Colorado
> audience here, tho'. But there's a fair chance
> Apex will notice.
>
> I could only find two pieces of that Denver thread
> from Google cache:
> http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cac
> he:SLmMwauKpi0J:www1.topix.com/forum/city/thornton
> -co/TLTHM3VBC3TRORQ0A%3Flw%3D1+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk
> &gl=us
>
> http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cac
> he:SLmMwauKpi0J:www1.topix.com/forum/city/thornton
> -co/TLTHM3VBC3TRORQ0A%3Flw%3D1+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk
> &gl=us


I think the terms are very clear, at least they are very clear in the contract we can find and post, which is not the contract that is in force!!! The issue of some parent groups not showing the contract to members is a huge problem. And remember, it isn't the schools that are making the money, it is the PTA or PTO. There is a difference. If you pulled some of the other fundraising contracts, you would probably find big profits for those fundraising companies, also. Cookie dough, wrapping paper, they all need to cover their overhead. I just don't think the percentage they keep is going to be the deciding factor on whether they continue to do business in this county or anywhere else. It is the pushing and psychological manipulation of the children, the interruption of the school day, the sponsorship issues that are the wild beast to grapple with here. They are on school grounds, during the school day, and they do not have an active contract with the school system. What is everybody thinking? Remember, without a purchase order, the agreement is not "live". Do PTA's work for the school system? No. So, how can they control any aspect of the school day? They are not even eligible to book the school building and grounds during the school day for community use. So, how did they get in the door with these people? The school staff are not supposed to be actively involved in a parent fundraiser, and they are very involved in this. Straighten out the sponsorship issues.

I have asked to see the contracts on Stenwood and White Oaks. I will also ask for their applications for community use. Let's see who approved them, and why and how.

NewHorizon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I haven't been here at this site a long time, so
> I'll let others chime in. But I think you're
> safe. Not sure you'll get much of a Colorado
> audience here, tho'. But there's a fair chance
> Apex will notice.
>
> I could only find two pieces of that Denver thread
> from Google cache:
> http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cac
> he:SLmMwauKpi0J:www1.topix.com/forum/city/thornton
> -co/TLTHM3VBC3TRORQ0A%3Flw%3D1+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk
> &gl=us
>
> http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cac
> he:SLmMwauKpi0J:www1.topix.com/forum/city/thornton
> -co/TLTHM3VBC3TRORQ0A%3Flw%3D1+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk
> &gl=us


thank you new horizon. that was somewhat helpful. it appears that the apex fun run franchise owners are spending money to keep parents from finding out the truth about their scam. but his is America where money can buy anything

Boosterthon and Apex are scams and should be banned outright.

We wrote checks to our PTO who then siphoned the money to the school. Boosterthon is NOT tax exempt. Our PTO provides receipts saying we donated the full amount to the school and could deduct it from our taxes. Of course they paid Boosterthon almost half the proceeds. Maybe if FCPS doesn't want to help, the IRS would be interested?

Incidentally ever single activity was done during the school day. The assemblies were BS and I highly doubt a single kid out of a thousand could remember one "character lesson" a month later.

eagle viewer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.fcps.edu/eagleviewes/
>
> 2-19-2015


In January, I wrote to their PTA president:
> We read in section 4.18 of the VA PTA Local Unit Resource guide that for fundraising activities, "The regular school day schedule should not be disrupted, nor should the children be expected to give up their free time."

... and asked if the Boosterthon is in compliance.

No reply.

The silence is deafening on all of this.

TaxEvasion? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We wrote checks to our PTO who then siphoned the
> money to the school. Boosterthon is NOT tax
> exempt. Our PTO provides receipts saying we
> donated the full amount to the school and could
> deduct it from our taxes. Of course they paid
> Boosterthon almost half the proceeds. Maybe if
> FCPS doesn't want to help, the IRS would be
> interested?
>
> Incidentally ever single activity was done during
> the school day. The assemblies were BS and I
> highly doubt a single kid out of a thousand could
> remember one "character lesson" a month later.


http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f13909.pdf

How much does Boosterthon cost the taxpayer?

Let's figure 20 classrooms per school. Nice round number.
You have an assembly or two or three, plus classroom interruptions. You have an hour to do the run. Figure three hours of lost instructional time. Per classroom. Maybe $30 an hour for the teacher? Some make more, some less, but there are also benefits. Let us keep it simple.

So, 60 hours X $30 ==== $1,800. Plus administrators at $60 hour.
Maybe $2000 per school of lost instructional/ educational time?

My child missed PE/Music/Art for 2 weeks of Boosterthon bullsh*t. (Isn't there a law in VA that says how many minutes of PE they have to have per week?) They surely weren't getting any physical activity during the indoctrination--other than running up to get any prizes of course. By the time they walked to/from the gym every day they were out 30 minutes per day. I stood there and timed it. Maybe the walking back and forth was their PE for the week, but what about music and art?

Our checks were written to our PTA.

Oh, and then there is the hourly cost per child. Let's figure we spend $10,000 per child per school year divided by an even 1000 hours of instruction (I want to skip the calculator)=$10 per child per hour. This factors in teachers as well as support staff, building and grounds, supplies, books, etc. Using three hours-

$30 per child times 600 kids per school equals $18,000, right? Per school.

Maybe that is why the regulation reads that children are not to be pulled out of classes for fundraisers.

Rough estimator Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How much does Boosterthon cost the taxpayer?
>
> Let's figure 20 classrooms per school. Nice round
> number.
> You have an assembly or two or three, plus
> classroom interruptions. You have an hour to do
> the run. Figure three hours of lost instructional
> time. Per classroom. Maybe $30 an hour for the
> teacher? Some make more, some less, but there are
> also benefits. Let us keep it simple.
>
> So, 60 hours X $30 ==== $1,800. Plus
> administrators at $60 hour.
> Maybe $2000 per school of lost instructional/
> educational time?

That would be a great study. See how much the fun run scams sponge off the taxpayers. And add up all the lost productivity. If you add all that up, the fun run probably costs taxpayers more than the PTOs net from the fundraiser. Typical business. They cost-shift their overhead to the taxpayers then rob students families blind. And government run schools with government employee administrators turn a blind eye to it all. The property taxpayers across America are getting taken advantage of by renting their facilities for free to Apex and Boosterthon...and then paying all the overhead for those all about their own profits businesses. The taxpayers never intended for their schools to be used by profiteering corporations.

Rough estimator Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How much does Boosterthon cost the taxpayer?
>
> Let's figure 20 classrooms per school. Nice round
> number.
> You have an assembly or two or three, plus
> classroom interruptions. You have an hour to do
> the run. Figure three hours of lost instructional
> time. Per classroom. Maybe $30 an hour for the
> teacher? Some make more, some less, but there are
> also benefits. Let us keep it simple.
>
> So, 60 hours X $30 ==== $1,800. Plus
> administrators at $60 hour.
> Maybe $2000 per school of lost instructional/
> educational time?

That would be a great study. See how much the fun run scams sponge off the taxpayers. And add up all the lost productivity. If you add all that up, the fun run probably costs taxpayers more than the PTOs net from the fundraiser. Typical business. They cost-shift their overhead to the taxpayers then rob students families blind. And government run schools with government employee administrators turn a blind eye to it all. The property taxpayers across America are getting taken advantage of by renting their facilities for free to Apex and Boosterthon...and then paying all the overhead for those all about their own profits businesses. The taxpayers never intended for their schools to be used by profiteering corporations.

Does that mean we are spending just about what we are making? It is a wash!!!!!

Fuzzy math Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does that mean we are spending just about what we
> are making? It is a wash!!!!!


White Oaks cleared $17,500. See the posted budget sheer? That might put us in the hole......

Got out the calculator. The 2014 expenditure per pupil was $13,472 divided by 990 hours of instruction equals $13.6 per student per hour. Times 3 hours per student equals about $41 per student, times 600 students equals about $25,000 of taxpayer dollars per school. For each Boosterthon. We are probably in the hole.

The average teacher salary was reported at $65,000 per year. You can do that on your own.

Look above Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> White Oaks cleared $17,500.

Do we know if that figure includes the $2,000 paid to Booster at the time the contract was signed?

Your guess is as good as mine. It looks like they just calculated it out at 50%.