who should pay for it?

Please don't quote me as I may take down my post.

I am on the PTA board for my daughters school. The school decided this year it wants to raise money to build a new playground (let's say $50,000).

So the board and I have started all these fundraising programs to make the money.

The more I think about it though - the more issues I am having with it...here are my thoughts.

1. The school is a private school (which means they are able to make money). We all spend 5-10,000 dollars to send our kids there each year.

2. Our kids really want for nothing. They are all taken care of, live in nice homes etc....

3. Is it right to raise $50,000 for these kids when there are needy kids out there that could use the money so much more?

4. Why isn't the school chipping in? After all it's THEIR playground to use when our kids are long gone.

5. The school rents space from a temple. The temple has refused to put a penny into the project...and even though the school signed the lease for another 10 years - they technically dont own the playground even though they paid for it.

The playground is not the nicest I have ever seen, I am not going to lie. BUT it does the job. I am just having a moral issue here - It's a lot of money - I would love your opinions!!

(ps...there are 80 families in the school - so it's an average of $700 a family to build the playground. I almost wish they would just raise the tuition that much - or by half and in two years have the money to build it themselves).

Re: who should pay for it?

I absolutely agree with your concerns. It irks me to no end when my daycare did fundraisers for themselves.

Here is why I think they can't raise tuition to pay for the playground. It's taxable income for the school (if they're not a non-profit). If they do it in the form of a donation, could it be tax-deductible for those parents?

eta. the school should be for it but they're not going to do it on their own.

Message edited 12/4/2007 9:33:51 PM.

Re: who should pay for it?

Personally I think the school should pay for it. That should be part of the tuition you pay them.

Re: who should pay for it?

I think these schools have too much money to pay with Public and Private! I say the school shold pay for it. It might not be the bes playground b ut at least it has one. If it were me I would have even more of a problem with it too because the Tempe which owns the PG will not chip in, even a little bit. I understand where you are coming from. Does anyone else on the PTA feel the same way you do?

Re: who should pay for it?

Re: who should pay for it?

if the school decided to build a playground, the school should pay for it. If the PTA decided, it has more of an obligation to raise funds.

I know school overhead is outrageous (paying for heating old / drafty buildings, paying for new books and supplies, teachers salary and benefits).... and even schools with outrageous tuitions have to pinch pennies here and there....

the real issue is why so much money? If there are only 80 families with kids going there, the school doesn't need a huge playground. Why not just buy pre-fab stuff and add onto what they already have? What the heck do they want to build?

Re: who should pay for it?

I really don't know what the "right" answer is here, but I'll tell you, we are going through the exact same thing at our school. The daycare (and school up to 5th grade) is owned and operated by the synogogue. They've decided they need a brand new playground for the infants/toddlers. Now, it's true, the infant/toddler playground is kind of shoddy and that's why all the toddlers just end up playing on the big kids playground, which has caused a social uproar amidst the parents, causing the school to engage in all these ridiculous fundraising efforts to raise money to renovate the toddler playground.

I agree with you - these kids are all fairly well off and the facilities they already have are more than adequate - these kids really don't know the difference. I would have been piping in by now, if it weren't for the fact that our school also fundraises, probably on a daily basis, for SO many other things that benefit the community and families that are less well-off. They have a weekly mitzvah project and weekly fundraising opportunities, so it doesn't bother me quite as much when one of the fundraising events is directed towards something for the school.

I don't know if the school or synogogue is contributing any money, but honestly, that would bother me. The parents shouldn't be the only people funding the playground - it should be a joint effort.

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Re: who should pay for it?

yes, somewhat (probably not as much as it should be - but that is easily changeable).

I don't think the school has the money to pay for it right now...but I do believe it is partially their responsibility - that is where my issue is - I am not sure they believe it is their place to pay for it.

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Re: who should pay for it?