School board discusses fundraisers

By Ron Moses

Fundraising requests for high school athletics are down thanks to an effort by the school board to not “overburden” the public.

“60 pages is about 100 pages less than it was a few years ago,” said White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger, during the July 11 school board meeting. “We have greatly reduced the number of fundraisers. We, being myself, the principals, and the athletic director, have gone over these thoroughly.”

Dronebarger said a vast majority of requests came from clubs or activity organizations that don’t have funding otherwise.

“We did the bus signage sales that covers the vast majority of the expenses for the minor sports programs,” he said.

Dronebarger noted the basketball and football programs did submit requests because they are outside of the bus signage umbrella.

As for the overburdening of the public?

“This fundraising effort goes way back to previous administrations,” said Dronebarger. “We ‘re just trying to limit the number of fundraisers we have that tax the taxpayers. Everybody was hitting the same businesses in town and asking for more and more money. I know our taxpayers and businesses want to help, but there is a limit to which they can help.”

Dronebarger said he is trying to continue what he says is a tradition of not overburdening the public financially, but he also understands the burden it places on both coaches and players.

“We want kids to go play and coaches to coach,” he said. “We don’t want them out there raising money. That’s why we did the things with the bus signage and try to get people to give that way, with our revenue-sharing model. We want kids playing sports and not selling items.”

Fundraising has been eliminated for all non-revenue sports, according to Dronebarger. The only exception is if the program has a specific need. A broken piece of equipment would be an example of a specific need.

“In a nutshell, we are trying to provide the school system what they need, and, if they have any wants, they can go with their support organizations,” said Dronebarger. “I don’t want to discourage any group of parents that really want to support the team. But, we also don’t want to overburden the public for things we can provide.”

The fundraiser requests were approved.

The board also said it was in the process of gathering more information to make a determination on policy 3.206, which speaks on the use of school facilities. The question stems from private businesses, such as sports trainers and vendors, using school facilities for monetary gain. The board expects to make a decision by August.

In other business, the board approved federal budgets about Title IV and IDEA preschool and heard from committee heads.

All committee members were present.