It is your right as a tax paying citizen to know where govenment (federal, state, local) monies are being spent. The same holds true for public schools. You have every right to request from the administrator of the school for a copy of the school budget. If they do not want to comply (and that has happened), then go to your school district office. Schools are required by law to make their budgets available to the public.
GaWahine - How did you go about getting a copy of your school's operating budget? Our school also has a "site council" which decides how to spend additional $$. Before we start working on next years budget it would be nice to see what the school has $ for. I have a gut feeling our principal has asked us in the past for things that she just didn't want to show up on her budget. Thanks for any info you can give me.
I recommend that everyone look at your schools operating budget. It is public information. We just got hold of our school budget, after years of spending money for field trips, we learned that our school has been receiving funds for field trips. Because we have been using PTO money to fund them, the school used the money for other things. Be careful, you never know . . .
I have been PTC president for 3 years. The money we raise goes to benefit the children directly (math consumables, assemblies, field trips etc) and indirectly, Teacher apprecaition, sound system for the gym, teacher allowances. A happy teacher is a better teacher. We do whatever we can to give them a hand. I would definitely draw the line at paying off school debt, salaries and /or tuition assistance. This is money we as parents and teachers control, not the district. I feel in times when districts have less money to take care of the little things, thats where we come in. But mostly it benefits the kids. Would I love to do something to acknowledge our regular volunteers. You bet I would. But I feel this may be an inappropiate use of funds. They and I don't do this for the rewards other than to see our children happy and educated.
