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38 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, January 20, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 9, 2003 School staff will serve fast food as fund-raiser By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Dozens of local teachers will flip burgers and sizzle fries at three McDonald’s restaurants this week as part of an effort to biggie-size depleted school budgets. Staff from Sams Valley, Howard and Kennedy elementary schools will join in McTeacher’s Night, an annual fund-raiser during which educators head behind fast-food counters for a few hours. In exchange, their schools receive 20 percent or more of the evening’s proceeds. Last year, the three schools raised nearly $4,000 during the event, in which students, families and friends are encouraged to come to McDonald’s. This year, some 400 Oregon schools are expected to participate, said Julie Edwards of Davis Elen, a Portland public relations agency representing McDonald’s. Administrators and teachers here call McTeacher’s Night a creative way to raise money for math materials, art supplies and OMSI science lessons during lean budget times. Advertisement They say it fosters a sense of community and allows students to see teachers in a new, more human role. "It’s pretty fun," said Susan Inman, principal at Kennedy School, whose entire staff plans to show up for Wednesday’s McTeacher’s Night. "We do food prep, we do counter, we clean up the lobby area, we do the drive-through," she said. "It’s hilarious and the kids think it’s great that Mrs. Inman is giving me my meal." Elsewhere in Oregon and the West, however, some educators have criticized the project. They complained that it lends school credibility to the multi-billion-dollar fast-food corporation, demeans teachers and promotes poor nutrition. Nonsense, said Kellie Hill, owner of the three local McDonald’s franchises. She notes that the fund-raiser is voluntary and well-supported and that the McDonald’s menu offers healthy options. Hill said the event offers a chance to debunk myths about the fast-food industry, especially among teachers. "A teacher said to one of my workers last year, ‘What are you going to do all your life, flip burgers?’ " Hill recalled. "I told the teacher the majority of my managers make more than she does. And we have better benefits, too." It’s possible to view McTeacher’s Night from several perspectives, said Bonnie Sutton, principal at Sams Valley Elementary School. "I jokingly said yesterday that the headline should be ‘Central Point staff moonlights for math materials,’ " she said. But Sutton said the value of the event more than outweighs any drawbacks. "I think we do it to support kids and to support families coming out together and joining in a meal together, even if it is a drive-through meal at McDonald’s," she said. "We could have a bake sale and people might think we’re supporting Betty Crocker." McTeacher’s Night will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 tonight, Wednesday and Thursday. Proceeds will include $9.95 out of the $12.95 cost of "Teachers With Class," a book by Lake Oswego author Marsha Serling Goldberg. Sams Valley Elementary School staff will work tonight at the McDonald’s at 7241 Highway 62, White City. Kennedy Elementary School staff will work Wednesday at the McDonald’s at 3611 Crater Lake Highway, Medford. Howard Elementary School staff will work Thursday at the McDonald’s at 1140 Biddle Road, Medford. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465,or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times