Patrick Henry School Seeks Volunteers for Fall Art Auction
Many people are surprised to hear that a “public” school would need to do fund-raising but from PHSSA’s recent email blast we learned that:
One of our big initiatives right now is fundraising. Many people ask why we are raising funds, since PHSSA will be part of the public school system. Once we open the school next July, PHSSA will be funded primarily in the same way that other public schools are funded — by a per-pupil sum that comprises government dollars. Until then, all operating costs must be paid with funds raised by PHSSA. Our immediate goal is to raise $175,000 by September to pay for facilities renovations, classroom furnishings, and the hiring of a principal.
It’s still surprising to me that the building that many of us pass everyday is empty of furniture, books and even kitchen equipment! The PHSSA actually has to rent the building any time they want to have a meeting there. I wonder how many people assumed the building, as it was left the day Norrel Elementary closed, was handed over to the charter school intact? If you’ve been looking for ways to help, we have the following from the Director of Volunteer Mangement:
Great news! The curriculum committee wishes to partner with the fund raising committee in putting on an art auction (other stuff too) this fall. They are ready to put their considerable energy into making this fund raiser a success! Here’s where you fit in.
We need you now! What fun to plan a great event over the summer, meet new friends and further the fund raising efforts for Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts:)
If interested in volunteering for this fun event, contact Teresa Mahone, co-chair curriculum/media center/intersession at tmahone1972@hotmail.com.
Thanks for your continued support!
So does every public school have to buy their furniture and pay their own principal? This is all very confusing to me.
Each school has an operating budget. They are allotted a certain amount from the superintendent, the school then parcels up their own budget within that amount as the principal sees fit. I would guess that includes payroll, but payroll might be separate from the individual school budget and fall under RPS’s general budget.
I would assume that each school includes the replacement of furniture within their budget. But they’re already outfitted and aren’t starting from scratch.
All the old furniture from that school building went into RPS’s Surplus. Patrick Henry can buy furniture from RPS’s surplus just as the other schools can.
Again a big issue is that they won’t receive state money until students start coming in the door. But in the interim they need to pay a principal who will then hire teachers, training will be necessary because of the new curriculum and the equipment as mentioned above.
Hopefully, once it’s running, most of the money will come from the state but just like the most successful of RPSs public schools, fund-raising will be necessary to provide additional programs. You’d be amazed at how much money the PTAs at Mumford and Fox raise each year. The money that PTAs raise are often very targeted to providing programs and resources that the parents feel important to their kids but fall outside of the budget and SOL testing concerns.
Thank you Page for addressing the question from Cait.
I’ll add that PHSSA will not get 100% of the per pupil funding that other RPS schools get. In addition to furniture, paying the principal prior to July 2010, teacher training, the school requires computers, kitchen and cafetaria equipment, bathroom renovations to meet ADA requirements, other ADA compliance projects, other building projects such as installing storm windows for increased energy efficiency. I could go on and on. Feel free to contact me directly. Susan.Martin@patrickhenrycharter.org
If anyone is interested in joining hte finance committee and participating in building the zero-based budget for 2010-11, let me know!