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Teacher urges Taylor County board to revise student-fundraising policy; board agrees to rework language
Summary
An elementary-school staff member told the Taylor County School Board that updated Policy 58.30 appears to bar student-led philanthropy to outside charities. The board voted to pull and reword the disputed portion and direct the attorney to draft alternative language for hearing.
An elementary-school staff member, Kathy Kreidler, told the Taylor County School Board during public comment that the update to Policy 58.30 on student fundraising reads as if proceeds must be used only for "school purposes or for an activity connected with the school," a restriction she said would prevent student-driven philanthropy to outside charities.
"What is the most important end goal for our school district?" Kreidler asked the board. "After thinking about this, my answer is to produce well rounded, educated future citizens ... I was blessed to be a part of the TCES philanthropy club this year," she said, describing a student-run club that researched charities, planned fundraising and raised more than $3,000 for national and local causes.
Kreidler said she followed the school-site processes when the club collected funds through the school bookkeeper, but that when she read the updated policy in the board documents she believed it would prohibit clubs from directing proceeds to third-party charities. "I just was blown away ... I had done something against board policy for a year without knowing it," she said, and asked the board to give staff and the attorney time to revisit the wording so similar clubs can continue.
Board members and staff discussed the policy language at length. Several members said the phrasing in the packet reflects existing language and that the change came from Neola (an external policy provider); others agreed the board should clarify whether and when student fundraising can benefit organizations beyond the district. The board's attorney noted the current drafting does not expressly include the Rock Building matter and agreed the board could refine the language to reflect the board's intent.
The board made and seconded a motion to pull the contested portion of Policy 58.30 and asked the board attorney to draft alternative wording that preserves students' educational role in fundraising while ensuring proper oversight and accounting; the motion carried. The rest of the policy updates were cleared to proceed to advertisement for hearing dates, with Policy 58.30 held out for revision first.
The board did not set final language at the meeting; members said the attorney's revised draft would return to the board before being published for a public hearing. Kreidler told board members she would be willing to help craft wording that preserves student philanthropy while meeting the district's accountability requirements.
What happens next: the attorney will draft revised language and the board will consider that text at a future meeting before scheduling a public hearing and potential final adoption.
