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Fundraising in Corvallis Schools

Last year, the superintendent convened a Fundraising Task Force with the charge to develop recommendations for a fundraising policy and administrative regulation that:

  • provided a recommendation as to whether or not non-public school funds should be used to pay for staff costs and, if so, how it would be implemented,
  • provided guidance for fundraising across the district, and
  • aligned with Board Policy JBB – Educational Equity.

Task force members included Rachel Roberts, Courtney Shaff, Kelly Guenther, Nina Erlich-Williams, Aaron Lesan, Aubrey Eveland-DeWan, Amy Crump, Lon McQuillan, Kelsey Hibbert, Loren Chavarria Bechtel, Andre’ Gatien, Art Koebel, and Liv Gifford. The committee recommended no changes to Board policy DEDA Fundraising for Programs, Activities or Projects and recommended several revisions to DEDA-AR the administrative regulation related to fundraising. Based on these recommendations, the superintendent revised DEDA-AR and those changes will go into effect July 1, 2018. See the full task force report.

 

Important Information for Parent Fundraising Groups

  • All fundraising activities for Corvallis public schools require prior approval from the school principal.
  • All elementary schools have an assigned sister school to collaborate and leverage resources for the benefit of the students and families of both schools. Sister school PTA/PTO organizations are encouraged to collaborate on selected fundraising activities, joint learning enrichment activities, and activities promoting cultural awareness.
  • A greater focus on equity will be applied in the approval of fundraising activities for staffing. Any funds for staffing (full-time equivalent) must be approved by the superintendent or designee and decision-making will be guided by policy JBB – Educational Equity.
  • An Educational Equity Fund will be established by the Corvallis School District for the purpose of equalizing enrichment opportunities for all students and working to address inequity in schools. All parent fundraising groups will be encouraged (not required) to contribute 10 percent to 25 percent of fundraised moneys (or fundraise an equivalent amount) to the Educational Equity Fund. The Corvallis Public Schools Foundation will be the custodian of the fund.
  • The superintendent will establish an Educational Equity Fund Advisory Committee that will meet twice a year to establish an annual priority-targeted purpose and goal for the equity fund. The committee will include representation from principals, leadership from each parent organization, and the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation. Additional members will be included in these meetings such that equitable representation of traditionally underrepresented populations is reflected.

Thank you to members of the Fundraising Task Force for their diligence and commitment to creating guidelines for equitable fundraising across the district. We are grateful for the many school fundraising activities and events taking place in our schools and the leadership of parent organizations in support of their school communities. With an emphasis on sister school collaboration and the addition of the Educational Equity Fund, all students in the Corvallis School District will benefit from enrichment opportunities.  If you have questions about fundraising for your child’s school, please contact your school principal.