School fundraising raises questions

Transcona

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/10/2024 (528 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There has been a lot of conversation recently on the topic of parent councils, parents and community partners fundraising for schools. In fact, at least one school division in Winnipeg is considering putting a halt to the practice. One of the arguments is that the practice is not fair to all and all is not equal.

It’s a valid point, as some populations are at a disadvantage and can’t raise funds as easily as othes. The Government of Manitoba is responsible for building our schools and for providing an amount of funding it deems fit. School divisions collect taxes to fund the other costs associated with running the school, board administration, salaries, etc. Education taxes make up a large portion of our tax bills each year, but the government is now giving 50 per cent rebates to residential and farm property owners.

There are those who choose to send their kids to private schools, where the parents are expected to pay tuition based. Those families also still pay school taxes to the city and in most cases are not considered for school busing. My family chose the private school route for the early years of our children’s education. We felt it was an excellent choice based on small class sizes, one class per grade, and if there were ever any issues they were dealt with immediately. Fundraising was necessary at that school, as it did not receive the same funding as public schools received. Building upkeep was an issue, as it was not owned by the province. Families with children at this school were given multiple options for fundraising that would fit their situation, and they could also opt out and volunteer at school events instead. If not for the parent council and the dedication of the volunteers who served on it, fundraising would have fallen off to nothing.

As a result, in conjunction with being awarded multiple grants, the school upgraded lockers, flooring, lighting, smart boards, laptops, sports equipment and the big one was a new play structure, outdoor seating and rubber play surface. All of these would not exist it weren’t for fundraising. Community businesses donated small amounts; kids sold gift cards to their families, or they sold vegetables from Peak of the Market. Every little bit helped.

In the bigger picture, those who control the education purse strings should take a harder look at the inequities around the city and adjust funding accordingly to give each and every kid a similar experience, which will allow them to all grow up with a well-rounded education.

We should realize that every family is different and may not have the means that others do.