To Charge or Not To Charge?

I'm taking a brief break from my scintillating coverage of Walk-A-Jog to address an issue that we discussed at a recent parent volunteer meeting: should EVERY school event be viewed as an opportunity to raise money?

In recent years, the answer to this question was an unspoken, "Of course not." For events like our Holiday Craft Fair, International Day, and the annual Talent Show, we have often "swallowed" the expenses or charged a minimum that would only cover costs. We did this so that every family, regardless of income, could easily take part. Basically, we believed these events were opportunities for community-building, which is certainly one of the most important ways to create a positive school culture.

But with the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Budget Cuts coming, we need to re-evaluate this stance. On the positive side, people of every economic level seem eager to donate (we always have a donation box) at these particular events. After all, International Day offers an entire buffet of great food. The Talent Show makes everyone feel good, and feeling good inspires them to reach for their wallets. And at the Holiday Craft Fair, kids walk out the door with an armload of things they made for friends and families. It's easy to see the value there.

My gut feeling is that there will be no raised eyebrows if we charge for these events in the coming year, especially if we keep the message about the budget cuts in the spotlight.