wilcogal1974wilcogal1974Beach Lover70 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
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Monday afternoon I picked up my child from school and he was very excited and it wasn?t because it was the first day back from spring break. I am sure most parents on this particular Monday experienced the same phenomena called Boosterthon. I knew it the second my child opened his backpack and I saw the slickly done brochures. I am familiar with Boosterthon not because I had a child enrolled in Van R. Butler last year but because I was a former teacher there. I was leery of Boosterthon at the time but I didn?t speak my mind due to the fear of losing my job. Now I don?t have to worry about that because I was not hired back for this year. I am not writing this because I am bitter. I am writing this out of concern for my child and the other students at Butler. I have seen how this program works first hand and I have seen how it uses peer pressure and consumerism to make money for their company. Boosterthon takes 48% of all the money you donate to the fun run. They will come into your student?s classroom everyday and hand out prizes to the students who have gotten sponsors, while the other students sit and watch. I have seen the hurt feelings first hand of the students who did not get prizes. Boosterthon also encourages teachers to give special incentives to students who get sponsors. For example some students might get free time in class because they were able to get sponsors while the other students continue with their normal routine. The Boosterthon team is blatantly displaying the ?haves? and ?have nots? in the classroom. Is this really the kind of environment you want to subject your children to. In the outside world this would be considered a pyramid scheme. The higher you get on the pyramid the more prizes you receive. I realize that fund raising is a necessity in schools and Butler has some good fundraisers like Breakfast with Santa. They might not make as much money as they do with Boosterthon but at least all the money stays locally and you actually get something for your donation such as a picture with Santa and breakfast. Boosterthon does not care about our school. They will move and run the same pyramid scheme at the next participating school. They are all about turning your school and children into a money making machine for themselves and giving your school a cut of it. I realize that fund raising is an unfortunate reality of the public school system but it should be our job as parents to help fund raising and not the responsibility of the students to make money for a company that is taking a cut of the profits. I suggest bypassing Boosterthon all together and donating straight to the school so they get 100% of the money. I am aware that many of you might not agree with me on this subject but I hope I have at least given you a little more information about Boosterthon so you can make your own choice. I am not opposed to The Fun Run and Boosterthon handing out their material like every other fund raising company but I am opposed to our children being subject to a sales pitch everyday in their classroom. If you are concerned about Boosterthon like I am please contact Tammy Smith at 622-5040 or email her at smitht@walton.k12.fl.us
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64raised almost 20,000 dollars for the school. Find another fundraiser that can put that kind of money into a school.
I guess this means that to you as a teacher at Butler you believe the end justifies the means. *sigh*
I on the other hand as a parent of a Butler student do not believe in exploiting my children and using them as a fundraising tool for their school. Nor do I agree with my child being exploited by an outsourced company that is hired at 48% of the profits to infiltrate my child's school for a week and a half under the guise of "character building."
Edited
Andy AAndy ABeach FanaticBlue Mountain Beach4,389 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Andy ABeach FanaticBlue Mountain Beach4,389 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticI guess this means that to you as a teacher at Butler you believe the end justifies the means. *sigh*It would behoove all to understand that on many occasions "the end does justify the means". What is used to accomplish a goal is not always wrong. I would appreciate a substantiation of the 48% figure. Is it possible you exaggerated slightly?
I on the other hand as a parent of a Butler student do not believe in exploiting my children and using them as a fundraising tool for their school. Nor do I agree with my child being exploited by an outsourced company that is hired at 48% of the profits to infiltrate my child's school for a week and a half under the guise of "character building."
In my youth, admittedly a long time ago, this type of means for collecting money for our projects was common. It is voluntary. You should not participate if you don't desire to do so but as long as the effort is not criminal and is above board, other parents and faculty should be allowed to pursue avenues they desire to collect activity funds not covered by tax dollars.
Local school rakes in more than $55,000 | Carolina Weekly Newspapers
But Georgia company gets almost half
October 30, 2009
Andrew Batten
HIGHLAND CREEK ? For years, parent-teacher associations have used various types of fundraisers to support their schools and their own programs.
Students have hocked everything from wrapping paper to cookie dough, but a new fundraiser that asks families and friends to pledge money for each lap students run around a track at school has some parents worried.
Boosterthon Fun Runs have been making the rounds at area schools. Highland Creek Elementary held its fun run Oct. 22.
Highland Creek?s PTA contracted with Booster Enterprises, a for-profit, Georgia-based business to provide promotional material. Three of its employees made presentations on good character traits in each of the school?s classrooms.
For several weeks leading up to the fun run, students were asked to get $1 to $2 pledges from relatives and friends for each lap they run. The maximum students could run was 32, equating to a $32- to $64-donation from each person.
On the day of the fun run, students walked around a 1/16-mile tracked dubbed the Boosterthon Speedway throughout the school day. Booster Enterprises brought a sound system, played music and led students around the track.
Booster Enterprises kept 48 percent of the money raised and the rest, 52 percent, went to the PTA. Highland Creek Principal Ann Nivens said the PTA raised roughly $30,000 and that?s more than past fundraisers garnered, said Denise Lynch, the PTA?s director of fundraising.
Officials from Booster Enterprises did not respond to phone and e-mail messages from the University City Weekly.
PTA announcements didn?t mention the organization would have to split contributions with Booster Enterprises.
?We did not make an announcement per se, but anytime a parent would ask what the breakdown was, we would always let them know,? Lynch said.
Not advertising those conditions could have unfairly led parents to think the PTA was getting all of the money, Frank Palmroos, father of a Highland Creek third-grader, said.
?That?s being deceitful,? he said. ?Money is tight for a lot of folks around here these days and to give money to the PTA thinking that the money is going to them and then to learn that only half is ? it?s better to write a check directly to the PTA.?
With other fundraisers, like the popular Sally Foster gift-wrap sales, contributors get a tangible product from students, Palmroos said.
?The thing is when you sell wrapping paper to someone, they?ve got wrapping paper,? he said. ?With this one, people are pledging not knowing the school is only getting half.?
In 2007 and 2008, the Highland Creek PTA organized a golf tournament fundraiser.
The PTA switched to Booster Enterprises because the company provided students with lessons of good character and physical fitness.
?We felt that this gave kids a little bit of something because they teach the values of character development,? Lynch said. ?They also teach the values of physical fitness. It really gets the students involved with the fundraising.?
Booster Enterprises? employees gave each class five-minute character trait presentations every day during the week of the run. But, Palmroos said, those presentations and lessons on physical fitness are something the school should be teaching without the help of a corporation.
?That?s what gym class is for,? he said.
Lynch said the Boosterthon raised significantly more money than the golf tournament, especially in parent contributions since corporate sponsors funded the tournament.
?It really got the families involved,? she said. ?Our participation went from about 15 percent up to around 70 percent. So we had a significant increase in parent participation.?
Despite the high numbers of parent participation, Palmroos objects to a for-profit organization, Booster Enterprises, using students? class time. His daughter was tempted with promises of bigger prizes for more pledges.
?Doing it during class hours just isn?t right,? he said. ?You shouldn?t be making a sales seminar when these kids are supposed to be in class.?
Nivens, who approved the fun run as a fundraiser, believes students saw minimal disruption to their classes.
?On that day, they didn?t have recess or PE, so it actually took the place of those things and took about 50 minutes,? she said.
Palmroos wouldn?t let his daughter be tempted by the prizes. He held her from the school on the day of the fun run and had a babysitter take her to the library instead.
But Georgia company gets almost half
October 30, 2009
Andrew Batten
HIGHLAND CREEK ? For years, parent-teacher associations have used various types of fundraisers to support their schools and their own programs.
Students have hocked everything from wrapping paper to cookie dough, but a new fundraiser that asks families and friends to pledge money for each lap students run around a track at school has some parents worried.
Boosterthon Fun Runs have been making the rounds at area schools. Highland Creek Elementary held its fun run Oct. 22.
Highland Creek?s PTA contracted with Booster Enterprises, a for-profit, Georgia-based business to provide promotional material. Three of its employees made presentations on good character traits in each of the school?s classrooms.
For several weeks leading up to the fun run, students were asked to get $1 to $2 pledges from relatives and friends for each lap they run. The maximum students could run was 32, equating to a $32- to $64-donation from each person.
On the day of the fun run, students walked around a 1/16-mile tracked dubbed the Boosterthon Speedway throughout the school day. Booster Enterprises brought a sound system, played music and led students around the track.
Booster Enterprises kept 48 percent of the money raised and the rest, 52 percent, went to the PTA. Highland Creek Principal Ann Nivens said the PTA raised roughly $30,000 and that?s more than past fundraisers garnered, said Denise Lynch, the PTA?s director of fundraising.
Officials from Booster Enterprises did not respond to phone and e-mail messages from the University City Weekly.
PTA announcements didn?t mention the organization would have to split contributions with Booster Enterprises.
?We did not make an announcement per se, but anytime a parent would ask what the breakdown was, we would always let them know,? Lynch said.
Not advertising those conditions could have unfairly led parents to think the PTA was getting all of the money, Frank Palmroos, father of a Highland Creek third-grader, said.
?That?s being deceitful,? he said. ?Money is tight for a lot of folks around here these days and to give money to the PTA thinking that the money is going to them and then to learn that only half is ? it?s better to write a check directly to the PTA.?
With other fundraisers, like the popular Sally Foster gift-wrap sales, contributors get a tangible product from students, Palmroos said.
?The thing is when you sell wrapping paper to someone, they?ve got wrapping paper,? he said. ?With this one, people are pledging not knowing the school is only getting half.?
In 2007 and 2008, the Highland Creek PTA organized a golf tournament fundraiser.
The PTA switched to Booster Enterprises because the company provided students with lessons of good character and physical fitness.
?We felt that this gave kids a little bit of something because they teach the values of character development,? Lynch said. ?They also teach the values of physical fitness. It really gets the students involved with the fundraising.?
Booster Enterprises? employees gave each class five-minute character trait presentations every day during the week of the run. But, Palmroos said, those presentations and lessons on physical fitness are something the school should be teaching without the help of a corporation.
?That?s what gym class is for,? he said.
Lynch said the Boosterthon raised significantly more money than the golf tournament, especially in parent contributions since corporate sponsors funded the tournament.
?It really got the families involved,? she said. ?Our participation went from about 15 percent up to around 70 percent. So we had a significant increase in parent participation.?
Despite the high numbers of parent participation, Palmroos objects to a for-profit organization, Booster Enterprises, using students? class time. His daughter was tempted with promises of bigger prizes for more pledges.
?Doing it during class hours just isn?t right,? he said. ?You shouldn?t be making a sales seminar when these kids are supposed to be in class.?
Nivens, who approved the fun run as a fundraiser, believes students saw minimal disruption to their classes.
?On that day, they didn?t have recess or PE, so it actually took the place of those things and took about 50 minutes,? she said.
Palmroos wouldn?t let his daughter be tempted by the prizes. He held her from the school on the day of the fun run and had a babysitter take her to the library instead.
Andy AAndy ABeach FanaticBlue Mountain Beach4,389 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Andy ABeach FanaticBlue Mountain Beach4,389 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticThank you for clarifying the 48% figure. That said, the amount raised is substantially more than through other means and seemed quite acceptable to the school principal.
To each his own.
To each his own.
DessoDessoBeach Lover175 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
DessoBeach Lover175 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverI would not be so certain Boosterthon will return next year. Typically the first year Boosterthon comes to a school, a "record" is set in fundraising. Everyone (almost) glows about the money and character building theme and all is pretty good. The administration is happy with having the money and basically not having to do much for it. The second year the fundraiser didn't do as well as the first year and it starts circulating even more about the company's "take" on the event. By the third year, if Boosterthon returns, the lack of support has usually reached the point where it is no longer feasible, profit-wise for Boosterthon to continue to have a school as a client. They will not do a Boosterthon event for you if it is not extremely profitable for them. This has been played out all over Georgia and Alabama already. A little cash and a boat load of rah-rah does not necessarily a happy parent make. And in the end that is who will decide the issue, not the principal.
GeoGeoBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach, FL2,740 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
GeoBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach, FL2,740 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticThis is the second year my Butler kid participated. This year while I watched the event it crossed my mind that this company is making a lot of money off of our kids. I was starting to go down the path of thinking this was bad. Then they made an announcement as if they were reading my mind.
They said that when Butler did this type of thing themselves they made something like 15k. But that now that these guys were running it they were getting 33k.
So I figured everyone was winning here and I felt better about it.
They could spend another 15k on resources to make that extra 15k. or spend/do very little and get that extra 15k. I dunno.
They said that when Butler did this type of thing themselves they made something like 15k. But that now that these guys were running it they were getting 33k.
So I figured everyone was winning here and I felt better about it.
They could spend another 15k on resources to make that extra 15k. or spend/do very little and get that extra 15k. I dunno.
Douglas the IntrepidDouglas the IntrepidBeach FanaticOn the shores of paradise, Seagrove Beach1,329 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Douglas the IntrepidBeach FanaticOn the shores of paradise, Seagrove Beach1,329 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticI think a large part of the issue from reading the earlier posts is the effect on younger children who are not participating. Having Boosterthon come into the classrooms and giving prizes to the students who participated in front of those who didn't is just wrong. All the kids know is they didn't get anything and besides making them feel bad, it then pressures parents into potentially participating just so their kids 'fit in'. I personally don't want boosterthon manipulating my child's emotions to further their own financial gain. Just bypass boosterthon altogether and right a check directly to the PTA. Its better for the school and its better for our children. I wholeheartedly endorse normal fundraisers that go 100 percent to the school. It sickens me to see corporate getting rich off our children in such a manipulative manner.
scooterbug44scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertRandom thought - could we get rid of the fundraising and use TDC money for these things?
I am sure we could spin it that well outfitted schools and good education system are a draw for businesses wanting to locate here.
I am sure we could spin it that well outfitted schools and good education system are a draw for businesses wanting to locate here.
GeoGeoBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach, FL2,740 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
GeoBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach, FL2,740 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticWhat about doing away with the prizes?
This is a tough issue for me. I agree with much from both sides of it.
When I was a kid we sold candy bars. One year I won the grand prize- a bike. All the other years I didn't win anything. But I don't remember crying about it and if I did I would have gotten a bit of tough love from my mom for being a sore loser-- not saying that's what the kids of posters here are. Just sharing what mom would have said.
This is a tough issue for me. I agree with much from both sides of it.
When I was a kid we sold candy bars. One year I won the grand prize- a bike. All the other years I didn't win anything. But I don't remember crying about it and if I did I would have gotten a bit of tough love from my mom for being a sore loser-- not saying that's what the kids of posters here are. Just sharing what mom would have said.
Douglas the IntrepidDouglas the IntrepidBeach FanaticOn the shores of paradise, Seagrove Beach1,329 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Douglas the IntrepidBeach FanaticOn the shores of paradise, Seagrove Beach1,329 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticWhat about doing away with the prizes?
This is a tough issue for me. I agree with much from both sides of it.
When I was a kid we sold candy bars. One year I won the grand prize- a bike. All the other years I didn't win anything. But I don't remember crying about it and if I did I would have gotten a bit of tough love from my mom for being a sore loser-- not saying that's what the kids of posters here are. Just sharing what mom would have said.
I think that if they did away with the 'character building' sales pitch, I would be much more okay with the concept. Regardless, my daughter goes to Bay Elementary and they apparently had misgivings as well and didn't implement the program.
I bet that was one heck of a bike Geo! 😀
Edited
North LakeNorth LakeBeach Lover145 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
North LakeBeach Lover145 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach LoverRandom thought - could we get rid of the fundraising and use TDC money for these things?
I am sure we could spin it that well outfitted schools and good education system are a draw for businesses wanting to locate here.
Nice thought SB, but the law authorizing levy of the bed tax -- the TDC funds -- does not allow their use for anything but marketing of the destination, beach maintenance, and beach nourishment.
Also, No TDC, no bed tax funds -- the two go hand in hand under the law. If the county levies a bed tax, it has to have a TDC Advisory Board. [subject of another thread I know, but it seemed to fit here as well]
School Board expenditures are also a completely separate levy from your normal county (BCC) property taxes. The School Board is an independent taxing authority from the county by law, and they can only use their revenues for schools -- not roads, public safety, and services like libraries, health, parks, etc.
smokedetectorsmokedetectorBeach Comber6 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Comber
Boosterthon is back! Let's raise more money than last year to show how much we care about our school!
justhavinfunjusthavinfunBeach FanaticEastern Lake378 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
justhavinfunBeach FanaticEastern Lake378 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticUnless your kids are attending a private school, there are very few options for parents when it comes to school fundraising. For the last 18 years I?ve lived in Kentucky and we were fundraised to death in every facet of the K-12 environment. First off we have to ?Rent School Books? each and every year which I found to be absolutely ridiculous. Then our kids are hit to sell everything from candy to mulch and if your kids are in sports, its worse. Everything from car washes, value cards, advertising and you name it, we have sold it or more importantly write a check. In HS football, if your child did not sell a required amount of Ads for the program, they did not receive their ?Spirit Pack? of shorts and a tee shirt. The problem is people cannot be forced into selling anything and fundraising is left to a select few parents who are either committed to the program or have the financial means to write the check. Trust me it?s gets old real quick and the only solution is for the school board to increase taxes on everyone.
As far as the Boosterthon goes, when solicitors call our home , the first thing I ask if the organization gets 100% of the donations and in the majority of these situations, they do not and I just hang up ? I will not give my hard earned money to the firefighters or police if they are not getting 100%. Bottom line is I would just write the school a check and speak directly to the principal / school board and express your displeasure with the organization. All it takes is a steady stream of concerned parents requesting a conference to change things. Boy am I glad fundraising is in my rear view mirror!
As far as the Boosterthon goes, when solicitors call our home , the first thing I ask if the organization gets 100% of the donations and in the majority of these situations, they do not and I just hang up ? I will not give my hard earned money to the firefighters or police if they are not getting 100%. Bottom line is I would just write the school a check and speak directly to the principal / school board and express your displeasure with the organization. All it takes is a steady stream of concerned parents requesting a conference to change things. Boy am I glad fundraising is in my rear view mirror!
TeresaTeresaSoWal GuideSouth Walton, FL30,970 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Guide
TeresaSoWal GuideSouth Walton, FL30,970 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal GuideI have not said anything negative towards Butler. I am just against Boosterthon. I encourage parents to donate to help the school. I have donated myself, but I choose to donate straight to the classroom and not to Boosterthon. I like Butler and I think it is a great school with great teachers! I am just totally against Boosterthon and their methods of collecting pledges.In no circumstance can I agree with prizes being handed out everyday in the classroom to select students while the others watch. Mixing in a character lesson while keeping tabs on pledges and prizes does not make it right. I think Boosterthon is the one that needs a character lesson. They make sure everyday that all the kids see what prizes they have. This motiviates the kids to want what the other kids have and it keeps the money rolling in for Boosterthon. If you agree with this method of fund raising by all means give your money to Boosterthon, but if you are like me bypass Boosterthon and give it straight to the school.
If this is true, then I have to say I would definitely have concerns about this fundraising activity in my child's school. Why would a fundraising company provide daily lessons on character to classroom children?
I would rather see fundraising being conducted outside of the classroom. Unless the fundraising is part of a classroom-related goal the children do together with their parents, such as raising money for a field trip - something the kids can learn from, experience and receive meaningful rewards.
Edited
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