Smart Wrote:
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> First, the program is for rising 7th graders, not
> a Freshman Orientation.
> Second, it isn't a fundraiser for the PTSA. Last
> year, they did end up having funds left over -
> which they did not plan, and they rolled it over
> into this year's program to add a week and offer
> more scholarships. The fee pays for the teachers
> and facility, and the things that are provided to
> the kids. The Robinson PTSA doesn't do
> fundraisers, their budget comes from very specific
> items. It was started to welcome families into
> this very transient area, and give kids a good
> starting point, not to raise money and it is not
> part of the operating budget. It is coordinated by
> PTSA volunteers, with a school employee as the
> liaison. The PTSA isn't doing a teacher's job -
> nor should they - and the county can't afford to
> foot the bill, so the PTSA worked with the school
> to provide an option for kids.
> Third, it has nothing to do with being extremely
> committed or IB. It's summer camp where you do
> activities related to getting to know Robinson
> instead of playing in the park for that same
> amount of time.
> Fourth, it's for any kid who wants to check out
> the hundreds of things that Robinson offers - it's
> a huge place; there are roughly 500 kids rising
> into the 7th grade and only about 200 that attend,
> so no one is the odd man out, and the staff are
> from all grades so favoritism isn't an issue.
> If anyone is curious to find out the actual facts,
> email
president@robinsonptsa.org. Not everything
> has an evil ulterior motive.
It is a fundraiser. There was money left over, it was not offered at cost. Even if the money is used for a "good cause", if there are surplus funds, it is a fundraiser. They took the money from people who signed and used it to pay for other people so they could do the camp for free or at a discount, etc.