Bowman County’s school board fielded questions related to in-school fundraising after a board member voiced their concern Monday.
By BRYCE MARTIN
Pioneer Editor
Tobiann Andrews, who was elected onto the Bowman County School Board in June, mentioned an issue regarding the school’s policy on fundraising when the board reviewed financial reports at its regular meeting.
The school’s library, which is overseen by Mary Duletski, will be hosting a fundraising book fair during parent-teacher conferences later this month. Andrews questioned why the library is able to fundraise but not individual teachers.
“There was a comment in the past that we don’t fundraise, so is that a policy or just what was said?” Andrews asked.
Superintendent Dave Mahon said the school’s procedure is for all fundraising to be approved by Tyler Senn, who serves as the activities director.
Individual teachers cannot fundraise, Mahon added.
Dan Peterson, school board president, added to the discussion as he explained the reason for not monitoring fundraising originated several years ago, when sports teams would raise funds on their own to purchase uniforms.
“(The) community was getting hit up, left and right,” Peterson said.
When Tony Duletski became superintendent that changed, according to Peterson.
The teams were subsequently put on rotations to purchase new uniforms and that has been the school’s process ever since, including the elimination of general school fundraisers such as selling candy bars, popcorn and more.
There are, however, still organizations that do fundraise with the school’s permission, including FFA and SADD.
Andrews continued to inquire why the library was permitted to raise funds — specifically hosting book fairs — considering it has its own budget unlike individual classrooms.
“It’s a community event, very well attended, held in conjunction with parent-teacher conferences,” said board member Kevin Bucholz.
“It’s a good thing,” added Mahon.
Though Andrews suggested raising funds for classrooms would also be “a good thing.”
She added her concern that those funds could be going to purchase items not specifically related to school curriculum.
Andrews focused on two bills Mary Duletski had submitted, for miscellaneous items including an $80 frame and a $250 bill to Hobby Lobby, a craft store. The board gave no further details on the Hobby Lobby purchase.
The school’s business manager, Debbie Bucholz, clarified to Andrews that those two bills in question were paid using the library’s general fund and not from fundraisers.
“If (Mary Duletski) can raise some money by having a book fair to help us out, why not?” said Mahon, who added that the library serves the entire student body while individual classrooms serve only a handful of students.
It was Andrews’s opinion that she would rather put money towards individual classrooms than the school’s library. “To me, the library is secondary to the classroom,” she said, indicating that she is focused on priorities.
While they do not typically fundraise individually, teachers are able to receive reimbursement for items they purchase for their classroom. The process, as explained by Peterson, is that teachers will submit a request to the school for reimbursement and it would go to the superintendent for approval.
