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dr_nerdface t1_j8o8zvy wrote

what are these "donations" going to? it doesn't mention that on the fundraising page.

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leethalweapons t1_j8rhsm6 wrote

Thanks for raising the question. It’s been a year of fundraising and I gave at first, but we need some accountability.

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bozatwork OP t1_j8ol0fx wrote

Let me take a few minutes to list out all of the things that a public school in the City of Richmond needs for its students, teachers, and staff that aren't provided by the city's funding. Just kidding, it's a long list. Ticket sales are going to the PTA's fund like every event they run (Strawberry Street Festival, Christmas Tree sales, etc.). Did you buy tickets and plan to support the school? Happy to discuss all of it in more detail in person if you'll be there, and introduce you to the board volunteers.

In short, the PTA is a registered non-profit whose board votes on allocating funds to programs that have been prioritized by the teachers, the parents, and the students. All financial reporting by law is public, as are the meetings where allocation decisions are voted on by the board. PTAs take a lot of time and energy to effectively run, and Fox has managed to keep its PTA efforts going despite the pandemic and a year of virtual school, and then the fire. It's pretty remarkable that the people volunteering for the board this year have the energy. They, like the PTA of any public school, need more support and more funding and more volunteers, and less critics that assume there must be something amiss. There's never enough money to fund everything that's requested, never enough volunteers for the events, and the board has to work hard to get parents engaged and raise funds creatively every year. It's a full-time job, in addition to the full-time job that most parents already have.

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dr_nerdface t1_j8q2tve wrote

I'm painfully aware of the shortcomings of public education budgets. I have friends who work at schools in RPS far worse off than Fox ever was. frankly, everyone SHOULD wonder where donations go. transparency is vital in crowdfunding efforts. no need to get shitty with someone asking for transparency.

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bozatwork OP t1_j8sdmwk wrote

Sorry, I was a bit cranky after getting attacked yesterday. It is always thankless work, which I've come to expect, but to be called racist for trying to support a school that's been through a lot is a bit overboard. Didn't mean to take it out on you personally.

There does seem to be some assumption that PTA funds are misused, as I've seen skeptical comments before. Maybe it can happen in some places, but my experience is that things are very buttoned up. Anyone can request funds for a project, which the board reviews and votes. The budget meeting is public and anyone can attend, just like anyone can join the board or volunteer. The principal is part of the PTA and there is a teacher advocate as well. Those that have the passion among the parents make the time for the commitment.

As with many things, it's layered and to some degree can be political. I can say that last year after the fire there was a lot of interest in PTA funds across the board. Requests for "wellness" for teachers such as paid lunches or massages or other things that felt to many parents as going overboard and not appropriate for PTA funding (there was a real dearth of wellness for students and parents). But, they were discussed and voted on as part of the process. But every year they review all requests and judge priorities based on the budget available, which is a direct outcome of the fundraising efforts put on by the PTA. So, no events like this parents' night out or the Strawberry Street Festival, then no money for student programs that everyone is used to having and wants to see continue.

I also wish the system was different, but I'm forced to live in reality.

If you want to DM me, happy to discuss further. I encourage teachers and staff to take an interest in the PTA at your schools.

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sleevieb t1_j8pe3zn wrote

Wherever the parents decide.

It’s a way to prop up schools with wealthy kids without having to fix root issues of systemic failure or god forbid letting too many poors in.

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RVAnus t1_j8pm2k1 wrote

Jesus Christ dude, you're willing to throw away a school with a 44% economically disadvantaged student body because your ideology says it's not ok to help rich white people too. This is a bullshit take and a big part of the reason RPS and Richmond as a whole struggle to make progress.

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sleevieb t1_j8qgi7p wrote

A system where the rich are able to help themselves over others in a system that is deficient is not equitable.

When the politicians couldn’t use the n word anymore they moved on to negro. When they became untenable they transitioned to “walkable schools”. The rationale for having a fundraiser for one school in a system that is failing is the same that justifies keeping the Richmond schools poor and the county ones rich and I had to call it as I see it in this thread.

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RVAnus t1_j8r60c5 wrote

You should be the one to explain to the economically disadvantaged families at Fox that their school shouldn't be allowed to fundraise for itself because some of other families are too wealthy.

You point to the disparity between city and county schools, and then propose actions that would only widen those divides.

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sleevieb t1_j8s5zw3 wrote

get rid of municipal school boards and de segregate the schools across all lines including cities and counties.

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bozatwork OP t1_j8sfxo3 wrote

Your point is so far beyond the scope of this conversation.

What have you personally done to effect any change?

I'm so worn out with critics. "The school should do this, the school should do that, I don't know why we can't just do X." Well, they have a limited budget and limited staff, if you have an idea you can propose it and help with fundraising and volunteering. It's not ideal, and maybe it's not right, but it's the reality we are living in and it's better than sitting on your laptop writing critiques wishing for a better system.

I have advocated for addressing the LCI funding which is the underlying issue for much of the inequity in Richmond. But I do not expect the General Assembly in our current administration to take the big political leap of doing anything to actually change it--especially when we all recognize we are about $2B behind on school updates.

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sleevieb t1_j8ske3c wrote

You don't get to dictate the scope of the conversation.

What I have or have not done has no baring on the legitimacy on my opinion. I have not worked to uphold the inequitable status quo while also claiming to be battling it as you have in here and as this fundraise seeks.

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You accuse me of what about ism but in this same post refuse to answer simple questions like "where does the funding go".

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I agree that "addressing LCI" funding will be innefective and that the current governmental structure is built to maintain the status quo and to minimize the will of the people.

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