Alumnus asks board to allow alumni-run fundraising catalog for Monroe High

Roderick Whitaker, an alumnus and representative of an alumni group, asked the Dougherty County School Board on April 13 for provisional permission to operate a nonprofit alumni fundraising catalog that would sell Monroe High–branded items bearing an alumni logo.

Whitaker told the board the group—about "15 to 20" alumni, including several prominent graduates—wants to create a residual source of fundraising that would not replace school booster clubs. "We're not asking directly for money," Whitaker said, explaining the catalog would offer items with an alumni design so donors could indicate support by purchasing alumni-branded merchandise rather than giving directly to a particular team or booster.

Whitaker said the group is already registered as a nonprofit and has an EIN, and offered accountability measures including providing "5, 10 names with numbers" so the effort would not appear to be a single individual's project. He asked the board for provisional permission to assemble 30–40 item designs at roughly $100 each and to promote those items to alumni networks.

The chair acknowledged Whitaker and said the district had provided Whitaker with the fundraising policy. The chair directed staff to review Whitaker's request and the fundraising policy and to continue the conversation with him, asking staff member (referred to as Mister Davis) to follow up. A board member also thanked Whitaker and encouraged him to submit a formal proposal for staff consideration.

The board did not take formal action on Whitaker's request that night; the item was referred to staff for review and possible future consideration.

The board's decision to send the request to staff leaves open whether the district will permit the alumni group to use Monroe High identifiers or require specific trademark/logo approvals and accounting controls before any sales or distribution.