DHS Principal John McCarthy spoke on behalf of the council regarding the charge given to them after fundraising by outside groups became an issue at last year’s Thanksgiving football game.  A week before the game, members of the Appalachia Service Project, who were previously given permission to sell donuts, were uninvited to do so because of a lack of policy governing fundraising efforts by non-school groups.  The school committee then voted to invite the group back and take a closer look at policies to avoid what one member called a “public relations nightmare” like this in the future.

“We reviewed these policies and opened up Pandora’s Box,” said McCarthy.  “We found more issues beyondÖlooking at how to deal with outside groups.”

McCarthy presented the committee with a list of 10 recommendations that the council came up with based on their review of the three policies the school currently uses to govern fundraising.

Among the recommendations was one that would insert language to prohibit non-school sponsored groups from direct competition with DHS-related activities.

“It’s the feeling of the council that outside groups should be allowed to raise funds, but not compete directly with raising funds for DHS athletics,” said McCarthy.  “For example, with the donuts, a principal can say ëokay’ and allow [an outside group] to sell ñ this policy allows them to do that and the policy ensures no direct competition.”

McCarthy added that students currently participate in a Christmas fundraiser to help those less fortunate in the community and if fundraising regarding outside groups was prohibited across the board, this popular and long-time event would come to an end, something students indicated they did not want to happen. 

Another recommendation by the council was for language to be inserted allowing for the solicitation of funds for charity, with approval by the principal first who will ensure the activity is “consistent with the stated educational goals” of the school system.

Committee member John Heinstadt confirmed with McCarthy that it would be the principal’s determination of what “competition” was and then asked him to define how he sees it.

“There is always competition [in fundraising] for the same dollar, but it’s more of product competition,” he said.  “Donuts versus donuts is competition but food can be of various types.  For example, cotton candy is not competition because we don’t normally sell that at a football game.  We want some oversight to protect school groups.”

Chairwoman Carol Love then expressed her concern about the road this takes the school down, especially since more fundraising is likely given difficult budget times.

“I’m very willing to listen [to the recommendations], but I just think if you fundraise on school grounds you should be for the schools and outside groups can go to whatever the new A&P will be or a church,” she said.

McCarthy shared Love’s apprehension regarding more fundraising, but reiterated that students wanted to help outside groups like with the Christmas event and were “adamant on not having a blanket policy of no outside group [fundraising],” he said.

Another recommendation by the committee was also to place all parent groups that raise money for athletics at the school under the umbrella of the athletic boosters.  McCarthy said that this was for oversight reasons and covered another recommendation that all groups supporting DHS activities require regular financial reporting to the principal and business manager.

McCarthy said that the “umbrella” approach was just for oversight of the individual fundraising efforts and that each group would have their own account for funds they raised.  He said that unlike the boosters, many of these other groups do not provide financial information to the school, so administrators have no idea how much has been raised and where that money is going.

Other recommendations by the council included:

*Requiring approval by the principal for all activities that raise funds to support DHS programs, including approval by the school on how these funds will be spent.

*Modifying  statements that prohibit “games of chance” to allow events like 50/50 raffles and half-court shots, which currently take place.

*Requesting that the town’s liability insurance be reviewed to determine whether it covers non-school sponsored groups raising funds on school property.

The committee said it would take the council’s recommendations in mind and review them for action at a later date.