Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Fundraising topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board asks district to inventory fundraisers after members describe heavy family burden
Summary
Board members at the Sept. 23 work session asked staff to compile a systemwide list of fundraisers and review athletic and activity funding after trustees heard that many families face repeated fundraising asks and that nonrevenue programs receive limited district support.
At a Sept. 23 Coffee County School Board work session, trustees pressed district staff for a systemwide inventory of fundraisers and asked for a review of how athletic and school-support funds are allocated after board member Miss Matthews described repeated fundraising demands on families.
Matthews said the district's small nonrevenue allocation — she cited an approximate $45,000 pot for nonrevenue programs that is largely consumed by floor maintenance and equipment reconditioning — leaves only about $1,100–$1,500 per nonrevenue sport when split across dozens of programs. "It comes out to about $35 a cheerleader," Matthews said, describing a hypothetical split and adding, "That's crumbs. Honestly, it's crumbs."
Why it matters: trustees noted that some programs and extracurricular clubs ask families and local businesses for funds many times a year. Board members and administrators discussed several possible responses: increase district direct funding for extracurriculars, limit the number of fundraisers a school or program may run, or impose a districtwide fundraising calendar to avoid simultaneous campaigns that saturate the same donors.
Legal and policy constraints: Board members also asked for clarity on raffle-like fundraisers. Trustees were told that district policy bars in-school lotteries or random-drawing fundraisers unless an exception is authorized and that some gaming activities require a registered 501(c)(3) and approval from the Tennessee Gaming Commission well in advance. The board asked staff to collect the written policies and any pending gaming-commission applications so trustees understand which activities are permitted.
Next steps and staff direction: Miss Matthews asked district administrators to compile a complete list of fundraisers conducted by schools and school-affiliated booster or support organizations and to bring back policy examples used by other Tennessee districts. "I can gather that. Give me a few days," Matthews said when the board asked who could assemble the inventory. Trustees discussed piloting limits or a coordinated calendar and asked staff to present options at a future meeting for board consideration.
Ending: The board did not adopt a policy at the session but directed staff to assemble fundraiser inventories, identify legal constraints for raffle-type events, and return with samples of limits and coordination approaches other districts use. Members signaled an interest in reducing donor fatigue and ensuring equitable access to extracurricular programs.
