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$18,000 Playscape; Where does all that $$ go?
Topic Started: Dec 28 2005, 10:03 AM (602 Views)
Anna Krome
Principal
PTA fundraisers bring in a lot of cash to schools. Where does it go?

Kids are "acclimated" to the promos in sell-sell rallies in their school gyms. Company reps make bonuses and profits from our kids' efforts.

Children (mine included) get excited about "prizes" to win, which turn out to be very disappointing.

Products are very expensive. Relatives, neighbors are burnt-out on buying the stuff.

Adams just put in an $18,000 playscape this fall. It can't come w/us. It was $$ wasted on a closed school.

Why weren't we notified earlier about the closing? Could that $$ have saved our school from closing? Rumours were flying for months. Could it have been invested for a non-profit school group to use in a philantropic manner? Could it have funded some small scholarship program for Adams' graduates?

I really do not know. I am concerned that so much cash was just wasted by the BOE's "no-information" tactics.

If this is all about saving $$, the BOE does not seem to be too concerned about our personal donations to our beloved schools being wasted.

Anna Krome
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Rose
Principal
Anna Krome
Dec 28 2005, 10:03 AM
PTA fundraisers bring in a lot of cash to schools. Where does it go?

Kids are "acclimated" to the promos in sell-sell rallies in their school gyms. Company reps make bonuses and profits from our kids' efforts.

Children (mine included) get excited about "prizes" to win, which turn out to be very disappointing.

Products are very expensive. Relatives, neighbors are burnt-out on buying the stuff.

Adams just put in an $18,000 playscape this fall. It can't come w/us. It was $$ wasted on a closed school.

Why weren't we notified earlier about the closing? Could that $$ have saved our school from closing? Rumours were flying for months. Could it have been invested for a non-profit school group to use in a philantropic manner? Could it have funded some small scholarship program for Adams' graduates?

I really do not know. I am concerned that so much cash was just wasted by the BOE's "no-information" tactics.

If this is all about saving $$, the BOE does not seem to be too concerned about our personal donations to our beloved schools being wasted.

Anna Krome

That is such a shame. All that money spent on a playscape, when I am sure it could have been used for soemthing else....perhaps books and supplies for the school? Yes, the BOE new about changes long before they anoounced them. What about the schools that spent money on structural things and are now going to close. Our school is going to close and they spent money on some structural things during the end of last summer. As far as the fundraising goes, I can not invest anymore money in those right now. Our school is going to close and I have no idea where that money will go.
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Rose
Principal
Again, I think our school system is being poorly mis-managed. And whatever the Adminsitration is being payed, it's too much.
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Grant1
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We have just begun to fight!
Rose
Dec 28 2005, 10:14 AM
Again, I think our school system is being poorly mis-managed. And whatever the Adminsitration is being payed, it's too much.

This is why I would like to know if any other school district has it's administration contracted out. Not employee's and administrative overhead up the wazoo, but a contracted agency who is given a flat rate contract to manage the district with distinct goals and pay based on meeting those goals - sounds too good to be true huh?

Well the private sector does this all of the time!!!

Just imagine, no salaries, no bonuses, no buddy systems, no long term pension benefits and large payrolls, etc, etc, etc...

And for sure the contractor would make sure his "FAT IS TRIMMED" so he can operate with a profit margin and try to continue to be the lowest bidder.
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Rose
Principal
Yes, there needs to be incentives for doing a good job and making good choices. If salary was based on performance, I am sure the Administration would have to be accountable, or nobody is going to make any money.
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gr1
Principal
Our school is not one that is slated to close, however, last spring and this fall our school principal advised the PTA that we not make any large purchase decisions until after the results of the demographics committee were announced and voted on.

Building administrators and parents knew that schools were going to close, of course no one knew which ones. Perhaps the school principal could have done a little better job helping the PTA protect it's funds.


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Rose
Principal
I agree. I am sure they will pool the PTA funds together when and if the schools combine. I wonder what they will do about the PTA Presidents, Vice President... and so on when these schools combine. We have a great PTA Board at our school and would hate to lose them. Any thoughts?
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gr1
Principal
Livonia PTSA Council and Michigan PTSA have guidelines for merging PTA's & their money. I'm sure some of the shcools will be losing board members if they have a 4 grader or older. A new PTA will have to be formed at Riley.

The Livonia PTSA Council President is supposed to be helping each school with the merger guidelines.

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Rose
Principal
Thank you. I was very curious. Most of our Board has PTA K-4.
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Grant1
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We have just begun to fight!
gr1
Dec 28 2005, 12:18 PM
Livonia PTSA Council and Michigan PTSA have guidelines for merging PTA's & their money. I'm sure some of the shcools will be losing board members if they have a 4 grader or older. A new PTA will have to be formed at Riley.

The Livonia PTSA Council President is supposed to be helping each school with the merger guidelines.

I caution everyone regarding the Livonia PTSA Council - They strongly support the LI. I got severly toungelashed when contacting them regarding the LI... caution, concern, and a set of ginsu knives ( with the free set of steak knives ) in your back if you do not watch your back and trust no-one but a concerned parent.
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Rose
Principal
Thank you. I do take caution when discussing this issue with anyone that I am not sure of how they stand.
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ktmom
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Principal
Grant1
Dec 28 2005, 03:36 PM
gr1
Dec 28 2005, 12:18 PM
Livonia PTSA Council and Michigan PTSA have guidelines for merging PTA's & their money.  I'm sure some of the shcools will be losing board members if they have a 4 grader or older.  A new PTA will have to be formed at Riley. 

The Livonia PTSA Council President is supposed to be helping each school with the merger guidelines.

I caution everyone regarding the Livonia PTSA Council - They strongly support the LI. I got severly toungelashed when contacting them regarding the LI... caution, concern, and a set of ginsu knives ( with the free set of steak knives ) in your back if you do not watch your back and trust no-one but a concerned parent.

Did they say they support the LI? They can not speak on behalf of all PTA members. They know better than that. I would hope anyways. I only takes one person to make them a liar and I know several PTA people who do not support the LI.
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Anna Krome
Principal
One PTA I have encountered really liked LI--not sure how they feel today.
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Cindi
Member Avatar
Principal
The PTA's cannot take a stanz on this issue, of course they are entitled to their own personal opinions.

PTA members can only hold a position for 2 years, the majority of our PTA will have to resign this year. There is guidelines for merging PTA's together. I would imagine by the end of the year (if this LI is not STOPPED) there will be meetings with each school and new PTA boards will be sworn in.

Mis-managed money..........What about all the new cabinets put into the schools over the summer. Remodeling went into schools they KNEW were going to close. Now that is a waste of our tax paying money. Just plain stupid!

As for Adams...those parents have every right to be angry! Someone should have put the reins on that one, before it took place. I heard a parent ask about moving the structure and they were told, "No, it would not be safe".

This BOE must go.............anyone know if the BOE gets a salary? How about R. Liepa, what does he make? He has 3 children...are they in school and do they attend Cass?
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Anna Krome
Principal
I've heard the BOE gets $50/meeting? Not sure, though. TAB?

The good doctor makes about $200,000 a year? Not sure, though.

Pretty heady stuff for a young horseman, such as he.

Back to playscape:

In the '05 fall, there was a piece in the Observer about the Adams PTA putting in the $18,000 playscape as a way to "save" Adams?

And, neighbors received a letter stating Adams closure a few years ago?

Please tell me this is not true.

Anna Krome
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