Board approves parent‑created GoFundMe to raise funds for Riddle Brook playground

The Bedford School Board voted at its Dec. 15 budget session to allow a parent‑created GoFundMe page to remain active to raise money for a Riddle Brook playground and acknowledged the district’s crowdfunding and gift acceptance policies.

An administrator explained that a district parent who works for GoFundMe offered to create a campaign and asked whether the district needed funds. The administrator said the page was launched in coordination with the family and that the district’s crowdfunding policy permits campaigns tied to district projects but that board acknowledgement is required if fundraising exceeds $4,999 under policy KCD. “Part of my onboarding is to actually do a GoFundMe page and raise money for an organization,” the parent said, according to staff recounting.

The board discussed optics and policy compliance; staff said they updated the campaign language to clarify that the district does not routinely budget for large capital purchases and that community fundraising is common for playground projects. One board member made a motion to accept the GoFundMe page ‘‘to exist’’ and another seconded. Board members voiced approval; the motion passed by voice vote. The board noted formal acceptance of any gift above $4,999 will follow policy KCD and be brought back for acknowledgement if the threshold is reached.

Next steps: staff will monitor campaign proceeds and follow KCD procedures if the campaign exceeds $4,999, at which point the board will acknowledge receipt of funds and accept the gift per district policy.