By Marianne Lincoln
Apparently, the Franklin Pierce School District is strained for funds. The state legislature created several new funding mechanisms and Bethel and Franklin Pierce both have been on the short end of the formulas. Both districts are very dependent on transporting students by school buses and the state does not fund transportation departments, leaving districts to pull funds from other areas to cover the costs.
In addition, Franklin Pierce is the one district in Pierce County that has no incorporated cities within its borders. Bethel has the tax base created by the Port of Tacoma at Frederickson. Franklin Pierce on the other hand, has the rural separator right in the middle.
Additional local financial stressors include cultural and language needs of the community, students with disabilities, population average income, housing prices, and turnover from its proximity to the military base.
Tuesday, August 18, the board will consider Policy 6102 to allow the district to do fundraising to pay for education of its pupils. Here is some of the policy language:
The district recognizes that it needs a balance of state, federal, local, and nongovernmental funds to achieve its goals. The district further recognizes that dwindling state and federal funds present challenges for the district. Increasingly, the district is seeking local and nongovernmental funding sources in order to preserve, establish and enhance important district programs and educational opportunities. The district’s ability to offer diverse, quality educational programs and experiences for our students depends in part on our ability to secure reliable alternative sources of funding.
To preserve and to establish district programs and educational opportunities the board authorizes fundraising activities where such programs: (1) Promote K-12 education; (2) Provide educational experiences for students, and/or (3) Address local funding obligations that support the educational mission of the district; and/or (4) Promote the effective, efficient, or safe management and operation of the district.
District fundraising activities may include: (1) Soliciting gifts and donations that are reasonably related to the pursuit of the district’s objectives; (2) Entering into interlocal agreements with other governments which generate additional funds for school district activities; and/or (3) Operating various revenue generating enterprises consisting of the sale of goods or services
that are produced by, or that are linked to, the district’s educational program. Fundraising programs, including enterprise activities, will be in the best interests of the district and will not interfere with the operation of the district’s programs and functions. District fundraising programs will not conflict with any applicable law and or state or federal constitutional
provisions, including the separation of church and state.
LEGAL REFERENCES
This policy governs the establishment and administration of district fundraising for the general fund and for particular programs in the district. It does not address fundraising programs conducted by parent teacher organizations, other non-profit or citizens’ organizations, or the associated student body (ASB). Fundraising by the ASB is addressed by RCW 28A. 325.030 and Policy 3510.
The superintendent will establish procedures for the administration of district fundraising programs to ensure compliance with all applicable laws.
A call has been placed to get a statement from the Superintendent, Lance Goodpaster on this topic. This article will be updated as this policy progresses.