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Parents and PTA warn app glitches and new vendor forms are disrupting communication and fundraisers
Summary
Speakers criticized the district's switch to new communication and payment apps, said vendor re-registration is preventing typical fundraising partnerships, and urged simpler vendor processes and optional payment methods.
Multiple parents and PTA members told the board on Sept. 4 that recent technology and vendor-form changes are impeding communication and fundraising at schools.
Sheila Torres, a parent of three, said the district-directed Rooms app has not given her access to all her children's teachers and that receiving key documents in app-only formats is burdensome. She also said the Chipmunk transportation app did not show buses in real time and that the switch away from cash at events forces families to pay convenience fees.
"If you pay a dollar, what is it, 5¢? That doesn't seem like much, but across the district it adds up," Torres said, arguing the fees reduce funds available for students.
Adam Warren called out a $1.25 per-ticket fee on the GoFan system for events and urged the district to run the numbers on lost revenue. PFA representative Sarah Harrison told the board Patterson Elementary could not place orders for pizza fundraisers because longstanding vendors such as Domino's and Texas Roadhouse must now re-submit more extensive vendor paperwork, including insurance certificates and payment-terms requirements.
Superintendent Broski said the district believed it had resolved the vendor issue that affected Patterson and said the chief deputy will contact the PFA to follow up on Monday.
Why it matters: School fundraisers and vendor partnerships provide money and services for school activities and programs. New vendor-entry requirements and mandatory app-based payments can reduce participation and impose additional costs; parents asked the board to provide easier vendor processes and optional cash or low-fee payment methods.
Next steps: District leadership said it would follow up with affected parent groups and review vendor onboarding and app performance.
