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School Supplies/Fundraisers; Going Broke
Topic Started: Sep 13 2006, 09:43 AM (7,049 Views)
f11
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LPS, transportation for all
How could a child who is "economically disadvantaged" afford to play an instrument?

Again, I would probably buy my own instrument, rather than subsidizing the purchase for the school.
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Grant1
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We have just begun to fight!
f11
Sep 18 2006, 09:50 AM
How could a child who is "economically disadvantaged" afford to play an instrument?

Again, I would probably buy my own instrument, rather than subsidizing the purchase for the school.

Check on-line...lots of great deals on used instruments.
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f11
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LPS, transportation for all
I thought this was something interesting found on the web......from a school Principal.


"We bought them all, about 30 assorted instruments, for $4,000. An expense to be sure, but at $130 instrument, a bargain. Charging the parents about $10 per month, a school can almost entirely recoup the investment the first year and one-third, and the school then owns the instruments to boot! Our parents have to buy books for some of our classes that cost more than this. By the time a principal has to explain such an expense in the budget, he or she has recovered almost all of the initial expense.

That is great for the first year if you can find an establishment with a roomful of old instruments. But what about the next few years when the school has added an intermediate and advanced band class. We currently have around 75 high school musicians soon to be 100 (out of a total enrollment now around 600). Our answer to this problem came from an idea of our current band teacher. Buying instruments outright was way too rich for our meager budget. But what we did was ask around for a special deal because we bought, or in our case, "rented to own," in bulk. We gave our intermediate and advanced classes, whose students were pretty sold on music by this time, the opportunity to rent their instruments from the school for $17 per month. We "rented to own" them for an average of $23/month with a special deal that we did not have to pay during the summer when our income was low. It costs the school only $6 per student for the first year and one half. After that, the school owns the instruments, and the money that is made by renting to the students can go toward paying for uniforms or other music expenses.

Although this is the Band Director's prerogative at our school, I would suggest a serious investment in drums. Drums are the most popular instrument by far and more students will want to play drums than anything else. It's a real battle for the Band Director. Therefore, the students should be willing to pay for the honor. You can rent them like the other instruments, but they will definitely be more expensive, and the students should be willing to pay the extra amount for the privilege. The main reason I mention it is because drums are the Principal's best friend. When the parents and students hear the band for the first time, they will be blown away. You as a principal will receive a lot of kudos for your decision to start a band. A healthy drum section that plays in synchrony (I cannot emphasize this enough) will drown out a whole lot of off-key brass that first year or so. I would encourage you to let the Band Director know how important a strong, loud, well-synchronized drum corps is to you. They should practice harder and longer than anyone else in the band. Nothing sounds better or is more impressive than to walk to the football stands from the parking lot to the sound of "Marching Toms" pounding away. You will feel chills up your spine.

Of course, some parents buy their instruments on their own for their kids. That's great and it takes a bit of a load off of the school. After a few years, though, the school will have a rich inventory of instruments, so that no student, no matter how economically impacted, is denied the opportunity to play an instrument. When the school owns the instrument it is easy to waive the monthly rental for a student who has real need. However, I always have the parent pay something even if it is only a couple of dollars per month. Parents take a great deal of pride in the fact that they helped their child with his or her new-found ability to play music and the instruments are better cared for if the parents pay something and know that they will be charged significantly more if there is damage to the instrument."
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loyaltolivonia
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Principal
Great find, f11. This would be fantastic if our own schools could do this. It makes so much sense, doesn't it?

If the children are going to be required to take instrumental music (because they feel it is the lesser of two evils [choir being the other evil!]), then the least they can do is provide the instruments. $10 to rent is nothing and in less than 2 years, the school would be making a profit on them!!! Sounds like a smart investment to me.

Of course, I think the parents of the current 6th graders (and perhaps even the 5th graders) will see no benefit in this because there is no way this could be implemented this year. On the other hand, I have a 3rd grader that may end up at Johnson in a couple of years and it would be great to have.
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f11
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LPS, transportation for all
loyaltolivonia
Sep 18 2006, 10:29 AM
Great find, f11. This would be fantastic if our own schools could do this. It makes so much sense, doesn't it?

If the children are going to be required to take instrumental music (because they feel it is the lesser of two evils [choir being the other evil!]), then the least they can do is provide the instruments. $10 to rent is nothing and in less than 2 years, the school would be making a profit on them!!! Sounds like a smart investment to me.

Of course, I think the parents of the current 6th graders (and perhaps even the 5th graders) will see no benefit in this because there is no way this could be implemented this year. On the other hand, I have a 3rd grader that may end up at Johnson in a couple of years and it would be great to have.

:lol: The thing I was trying to point out was that LPS should already own them....and so why are they charging so much now?
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49chevy
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f11
Sep 18 2006, 10:57 AM
loyaltolivonia
Sep 18 2006, 10:29 AM
Great find, f11. This would be fantastic if our own schools could do this. It makes so much sense, doesn't it?

If the children are going to be required to take instrumental music (because they feel it is the lesser of two evils [choir being the other evil!]), then the least they can do is provide the instruments. $10 to rent is nothing and in less than 2 years, the school would be making a profit on them!!! Sounds like a smart investment to me.

Of course, I think the parents of the current 6th graders (and perhaps even the 5th graders) will see no benefit in this because there is no way this could be implemented this year. On the other hand, I have a 3rd grader that may end up at Johnson in a couple of years and it would be great to have.

:lol: The thing I was trying to point out was that LPS should already own them....and so why are they charging so much now?

To help offset the money they recently lost from a lot of kids leaving LPS? :unsure:
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loyaltolivonia
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Principal
f11
Sep 18 2006, 10:57 AM
loyaltolivonia
Sep 18 2006, 10:29 AM
Great find, f11. This would be fantastic if our own schools could do this. It makes so much sense, doesn't it?

If the children are going to be required to take instrumental music (because they feel it is the lesser of two evils [choir being the other evil!]), then the least they can do is provide the instruments. $10 to rent is nothing and in less than 2 years, the school would be making a profit on them!!! Sounds like a smart investment to me.

Of course, I think the parents of the current 6th graders (and perhaps even the 5th graders) will see no benefit in this because there is no way this could be implemented this year. On the other hand, I have a 3rd grader that may end up at Johnson in a couple of years and it would be great to have.

:lol: The thing I was trying to point out was that LPS should already own them....and so why are they charging so much now?

Oh, they do own some already. But it seems as if it is just enough for the 5th graders. If you are in 6th, you have to rent or own :angry: That is where the $25-$65 charge comes in. You are renting from local (?) music stores. That price is per month after the "initial fee".
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fyi
Principal
In Michigan, they cannot charge rent to students for instruments the district owns.


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Anna Krome
Principal
It has arrived--fundraising--the time to add $15,000 to the PTA coffers is upon us.

My munchin wants to be sure "I buy a lot" so that she may get the rubber thing that lights up.

AK
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ktmom
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Principal
Anna Krome
Sep 21 2006, 06:56 PM
It has arrived--fundraising--the time to add $15,000 to the PTA coffers is upon us.

My munchin wants to be sure "I buy a lot" so that she may get the rubber thing that lights up.

AK

Fundraising is optional isn't it?
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Anna Krome
Principal
Yes, of course it is. This is a free country, right?

But who can resist the pressure of those munchins brainwashed by a seasoned salesman, pretending to "care" at these fundraising "assemblies."

Should school time be spent adding income to these salesmen/womens' incomes?

It is high-time that PTAs and the BOE wake up to what they are doing to our kids.

If teachers get better benes and salary than the average pupils' parents, should teachers be beggin' for moolah for bagels and muffins?

Our kids receive nearly $10,000 a piece from State funding. Why do we need to buy junk for bagels and laminators?

AK
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JEM
Principal
Anna Krome
Sep 21 2006, 08:11 PM
Yes, of course it is. This is a free country, right?

But who can resist the pressure of those munchins brainwashed by a seasoned salesman, pretending to "care" at these fundraising "assemblies."

Should school time be spent adding income to these salesmen/womens' incomes?

It is high-time that PTAs and the BOE wake up to what they are doing to our kids.

If teachers get better benes and salary than the average pupils' parents, should teachers be beggin' for moolah for bagels and muffins?

Our kids receive nearly $10,000 a piece from State funding. Why do we need to buy junk for bagels and laminators?

AK

I am not one for fundraisers. I would rather donate. (And the salespeople really don't care - you're right.) However, I think you are out of line - Fundraisers provided bagels and muffins for teachers????? In the schools my children have attended, never did fund raising money go for these items. The money went for assemblies, field trips, books for the literacy programs, etc. You sound very angry. But come on! Bagels and muffins!?!?!?!?
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cmic
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Principal
Anna Krome
Sep 21 2006, 08:11 PM
Yes, of course it is. This is a free country, right?

But who can resist the pressure of those munchins brainwashed by a seasoned salesman, pretending to "care" at these fundraising "assemblies."

Should school time be spent adding income to these salesmen/womens' incomes?

It is high-time that PTAs and the BOE wake up to what they are doing to our kids.

If teachers get better benes and salary than the average pupils' parents, should teachers be beggin' for moolah for bagels and muffins?

Our kids receive nearly $10,000 a piece from State funding. Why do we need to buy junk for bagels and laminators?

AK

I have to second that. AK, when you don't sound so bitter you make good points. ;)
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Anna Krome
Principal
Yep, I am PO'd when my kids comes home, suggesting we buy stuff, because a salesman promised they'll "win" a "prize."

Check out your PTAs balance sheet--you'll see muffins and bagels--$500.00.

As for "field trips"--what the heck are you talkin' about? My kid has to go on a field trip every month to the tune of $10 each--and parent-driven--no sibs allowed.

I missed the part where the PTA paid for a "field trip."

That brings me to another point, why in the heck do kids need a field trip every month--often to places they've already been in preschool and w/their own families? Hmmm.

AK

PS: JAM it's good to see you back.
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ktmom
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Principal
Anna Krome
Sep 21 2006, 07:33 PM
Yep, I am PO'd when my kids comes home, suggesting we buy stuff, because a salesman promised they'll "win" a "prize."

Check out your PTAs balance sheet--you'll see muffins and bagels--$500.00.

As for "field trips"--what the heck are you talkin' about? My kid has to go on a field trip every month to the tune of $10 each--and parent-driven--no sibs allowed.

I missed the part where the PTA paid for a "field trip."

That brings me to another point, why in the heck do kids need a field trip every month--often to places they've already been in preschool and w/their own families? Hmmm.

AK

PS: JAM it's good to see you back.

I am not sure what you mean bagel and muffins for teachers? Many schools have donuts with dads and muffins with mom breakfasts during the school year. These are usually very well attended events.

As for the field trips many schools take trips in which they travel on busses rather than in personal vechicles. Personally unless I was driving on trip specifically I would not want my child in a car with someone I did not know. I like the fact that they might take a bus instead.

Also, I don't know of any school in which the kids go on field trips every month. That seems a bit ridiculous.

I guess your point is you don't like PTA.




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