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Booster-club leaders, administrators clash over food trucks and booster guidelines; committee tables related policy items
Summary
Concerns from booster-club leaders about food trucks operating on school property and unclear booster guidelines prompted the Policy Committee to table booster-related items to the April meeting after committee members said key staff were not present to answer questions.
A dispute over booster-club input, fundraising rules and food trucks parked on school property prompted the Beloit School District Policy Committee on Wednesday to table booster-related policy items until its April meeting.
Board member Amy Levy argued that booster-club leadership had not been properly consulted on policies affecting boosters and concessions and said the committee should not finalize rules without that input. "I'm concerned that this is the second month we're having this conversation, and I suspect ... that not every person in leadership in a booster club in the district has been given this policy for their input," Levy said.
A booster-club president who identified herself during the meeting said she had not been contacted by the district’s administrator (Dan Graetz/Grama/Gratz — name variants appear in the transcript) and that boosters have their own bylaws, 501(c)(3) filings and raffling licenses. She said two food trucks — one Hispanic-owned and one African American–owned from Janesville — appeared at football games and sold food without paying a fee to the booster club, which the booster president said undercut booster fundraising.
The committee discussed jurisdiction over food trucks and whether the district receives proceeds when outside vendors sell on school grounds. District staff said such vendor appearances typically require approval and licensing and that compensation arrangements vary; staff also said booster clubs are exempt in certain after-meal timeframes. The booster club speaker said she had not been contacted by administration and that she had documentation of the club’s filings.
After discussion and expressions of concern about the absence of the administrator who could explain cross-reference materials (multiple committee members noted Dan was attending a conference), the committee voted to table items 2a and 2b to the April meeting so the administrator and additional booster-club leadership could attend.
"I move to table items 2a and 2b to our April" the committee motioned, and the motion carried. Committee members asked staff to ensure booster-club leadership receives policy drafts and to clarify which state or national guidance (references included to “Wisconsin Booster Club guidelines,” WIAA and a website called Parent Booster USA in the materials) the district intends to follow.
The topic will return to the committee in April with administration and booster representatives present.
