Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 1, 2006 Hoover Elementary School first-grader Alexandra Moore, left, and her sister, Hoover fourth-grader Adde Moore, are raising money for their school by selling coupon books door-to- door. Neighbor Svetlana Willhite and son Mitchell, 4, listen to their pitch. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Begging for books The role of school fundraising has shifted from frills to bare necessities By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Five years ago, Kate Moore’s role as a member of a parent-teacher organization involved mainly volunteering her time and keeping other parents informed of school happenings. Now, Hoover Elementary PTO’s vice president sees her job as raising money to buy basics at the school, including miniblinds and computers. "The PTO is more about identifying needs and figuring out how to raise money for buses to field trips and activities in the classroom," Moore said. "It’s not what I envisioned five years ago." In some strapped school districts in Jackson County and around the state, fundraising has become more than a means to buy football equipment and go on band trips. "Fundraising has become survival for many of the schools," said Randy Gravon, superintendent of the Central Point School District. "We don’t have enough money in our budget to buy everything we need." Advertisement At Scenic Middle School in Central Point, fundraisers pay for about one-third of computer purchases, overhead projectors and physical education equipment, among other things, said Principal Bob Bowers. About half of the money that goes toward maintaining, upgrading and replacing Talent Middle School’s technology system comes from an annual magazine sale, said Assistant Principal Curt Shenk. "If we didn’t have that fundraiser, we wouldn’t be able to upgrade the system," Shenk said. "With the requirements the state puts on us, it’s critical to have computers up to date and efficient as possible, especially in regard to the student testing we have to do online. If students can’t operate the equipment with fluidity, it’s frustrating as far as getting through the assessment." Two years ago, Central Point’s five elementary schools had to raise cash to purchase new math textbooks. The school board had adopted the books but didn’t have the money in its budget to pay for them, said Dennis Allen, principal of Jewett Elementary School in Central Point. The previous math books were not aligned with state standards, Allen said. "We felt we had to step out and try to get the math books as soon as we could because the teachers did not have the curriculum in hand to teach math," he said. "We found on the assessment that students were missing standards because teachers were having to pick and choose materials." That same school year, the PTO at Hoover Elementary School in Medford used fundraising proceeds to buy copy paper for teachers to print student handouts. "There was no more paper," Moore said. "The teachers had to take the paper they had already used, cross out the used side and print on the blank side. It was crazy because sometimes the teachers forgot to cross out the old side, and students wouldn’t know which side they were supposed to read." Gravon said he expects the district will have to rely on fundraising to pay for language arts and science curriculum materials next year. The high schools use fundraisers to keep their extracurricular activities and music programs alive. Fundraisers paid for a piano in Crater High School’s assembly hall used in music programs and performing arts productions. The high school in Central Point has been campaigning for money to replace the turf and track at its stadium. North and South Medford high schools have done the same. "Schools used to fund-raise for luxuries, like a trip to the water slides," said Kirk Gibson, principal of Crater High School. "Now, we fund-raise for things we have to have." Field trips in some Jackson County districts would no longer exist without fundraising. Shenk said several years ago school districts’ general funds paid for field trips. Now, there is not enough money in district budgets. "I was thankful to have those memories and connections to the things I learned on field trips," Shenk said. "Without fundraisers today, I don’t think we’d have those opportunities." How many fundraiser proceeds pay for school purchases is difficult to track and varies from school to school. For example, student body funds equaled $1 million in the Central Point district in 2004-05, said Vicki Robinson, business services director. It is unclear how much of that came from fundraising, as student body funds include student deposits for annual athletic exams and student ID cards, she said. Shrinking state funding tied to declining enrollment is at the root of the budget crunches in most Jackson County districts, Gravon said. "Educators have a reputation for saying we don’t have enough resources," Gravon said. "I challenge lawmakers to come to schools and look for themselves. If there is money someplace, show me where it is." Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail Begging for books ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement