Current Draft - Fundraising Policy

Home and School member of 7 years. Have significant concern over direction of this document. The need for approval from principal and superintendent, along with HWDSB staff supervision of fundraising would likely result in a profound decrease in funds generated and support provided to schools. In regards to “not all schools have the same capacity to conduct fundraising activities” I don’t deny this to be true but must point out the hypocrisy of HWDSB equality as HWDSB funds schools differently. Funding differences are based on EQUA data, discipline data and census data that is out of date. When your school is not identified as in need, it receives less publicly funded resources, less programming and less staff. If the board can allocate funds and resources unevenly, why do funds from fundraising need to be shared evenly? Especially when a school that is fundraising is not receiving the resources and programming from the board and is at need but not per the board qualifiers An add on to above/in regards to “fundraising will not be used to replace/provide items that are publicly funded such as classroom learning materials, textbooks etc.. I must say that the vast majority of funds raised by home and school have gone to this purpose. (Funding reading books for in class and at home reading programs, library books, math kits, funding for IPads and replacing IPads post COVID for classroom learning)…it would be terrible if home and school no longer functioned and could not provide the support, that is lacking from the board. Please do not alter the current framework of home and school associations. Please allow them to continue to function in consultation with principals, but not under direction and requiring approval. Please acknowledge what home and school contributes and appreciate rather than dictate.

As a long term citizen of Hamilton I have continually wondered why the various levels of our city government, such as the HWDSB continually find it necessary to disrupt well functioning citizen lead programs. The Home School Committees are made up of community parents who best know the needs of the local school where their children attend and are quite capable, in spite of what Board members think, of contributing toward the welfare of the school in their community. To have any part of the Home & School activities transferred to the oversight of an outside community entity, i.e. HDWSB, will ultimately result in less parental involvement and be ultimately detrimental to the local school. The local H&S Committees are accountable to the Home & School Association which is the way it should be. A system that works effectively and successfully. The HDWSB members need to focus their time and energy on fixing our education system rather than interfering in a program that is working effectively and has proven over many years to be beneficial to our local community schools. To the HDWSB "why do continually try to fix things that are not broken?"

Our Home and School Association along with our school administration ensure that students who are financially unable to participate are not left out. We always allow anyone to participate in popcorn or food days by eating that cost ourselves so that all of our students feel included. It is worth the cost of a bag of popcorn or 5 each week for inclusivity. Our administration is aware of people's situations and ensures no one who wants to participate is left out.

You missed the Charter for Home and School Associations of Ontario

Home and School is a separate parallel organisation that should coordinate its fundraising dates with the school to avoid conflicting fundraisers at the same time. However they should not be limited by very narrow fundraising guidelines which do not allow for out-side the box options.

Home and School Associations have their own internal audit processes.

Home and School Associations should absolutely follow safety/educational requirements for equipment and resources being donated. But again the actual purchasing process of this separate entity is of no concern of HWDSB.

Home and School Associations are parallel organisations which have their own provincial oversight and do not fall under the HWDSB control. H&S consults the school for its needs, but ultimately we could hold our meetings elsewhere, and conduct fundraisers elsewhere and then just drop off our donation of equipment or funds to the school and they could only choose to accept it or not with no other say. We are the parents of your students. Our effort is for our kids.

If you want to disallow fundraising for capital projects such as playground equipment etc., then the board best be prepared to provide such equipment required for each school on an annual basis and as the needs arise.

Also Alumni Associations are not within your purview either. If an Alumni Association decides to donate something (scoreboard, funds after a reunion etc.) that is their prerogative. And the school administration has no say in the matter other than to offer a suggestion for the use of funds donated.

Home and School Associations are parallel organizations that work with the School administration to enrich the lives of the students (our own children...read that again...We are the parents donating our time and energy for the betterment of OUR OWN KIDS!) We enrich our students experience through special events (which may or may not result in funds raised) and specific fundraisers for things like buses for year end trips etc. It is no right of the board to tell parents where and how their time and effort are to be spent. Any time and effort we put in is for OUR kids, and the improvement of the culture in OUR school. Many Home and School Associations operate specifically because their local school administration is poor quality and not willing to work with parents.

I am not in favour of Communism. Funds raised in our school need to stay in our school. We have gone too far with the participation awards and passing students who deserve to fail based on the merit of their work. Even though the current school board is out of touch with reality, outside of its walls people win and lose in life. If our school has the ability to provide something better/more enriching for our students by additional fundraising or special events provide by Home and School Association that is how real life works.

Frequently there is not enough public funding to adequately equip our classrooms with the supplies they require, including books for home reading, manipulatives, and even iPads. Our Home and School Association has fundraised for all of the above mentioned items in the past. Can you guarantee adequate funding in the future absent of outside fundraising?

Do NOT include Home and School in the Principals fundraising plans. That's what the School Council fundraising is for.

Home And Schools strength is that it works in conjunction with the administration but doesn't have all the same red tape. It should 100% not be included in these fundraising umbrellas overseen by the principal

Fundraising should only be used by HWDSB schools. I like the idea of schools with lots of support helping other schools with less support, but using funds raised by parents intended to go to their school to support national or international charities is going way too far. That should absolutely not be allowed. Schools can set up separate fundraisers specific to a charity they feel like supporting (like the Terry Fox Run, Jump Rope for Heart, etc.) so that parents are aware of where that money is going. But using general School Council Funds to do this is a terrible idea.

Home and School needs to remain a separate entity accountable to the Home and School Association NOT the Principal of the school. Home and School works closely with Administration at the school but should not report into or be accountable to the Principal; that is the purpose of the School/Parent's Council.

Home and School needs to remain a separate entity accountable to the Home and School Association NOT the Principal of the school. Home and School works closely with Administration at the school but should not report into or be accountable to the Principal; that is the purpose of the School/Parent's Council. Home and school has a separate bank account and responsibilities to the Home and School Association.

Home and School needs to remain a separate entity accountable to the Home and School Association NOT the Principal of the school. Home and School works closely with Administration at the school but should not report into or be accountable to the Principal; that is the purpose of the School/Parent's Council.

Home and School needs to remain a separate entity accountable to the Home and School Association NOT the Principal of the school. Home and School works closely with Administration at the school but should not report into or be accountable to the Principal; that is the purpose of the School/Parent's Council.

My comments represent my own personal views as well as those of many parents. School council member 12 year 6 as chair. PIC member 8 years, 3 as vice chair 2nd year as chair. Looking over the policy I feel as do many other school council members and parents: 1.There needs to be stronger language that all fundraising is to be a collaborative approach with the Principal and School Councils 2. Principals need to consider all recommendations provided by council members and provided written feedback when recommendations are not utilized. 3. The annual fundraising plan must be completed by the principal working hand in hand with school councils. 4. Limits on fund raising. My youngest daughters school continually has their hand out for money, often more than once per week. As we don't have a school council this year it is out of parents control. We have a lot of immigrants attending and some are struggling to make ends meet. This results in a lot of students not being able to participate. Not much fun watching your classmates enjoy a treat or pizza. 5. Perhaps a little more focus on knowing your community and establishing limits. I know first hand the look of disappointment when delivering pizza to the JR K and K classrooms along wiht not every one gets to line up to buy TCYB or popcorn. 6. When you have Principals, School Councils, Home & schools, Staff and students all with their hands out it can be overwhelming even for those with a deceit income. In closing I strongly believe Principals need to work with schools councils and take their recommendations to heart. If they say too much or we want a change it should happen. Schools are not an island with one leader, Its a community ! Where everyone should be involved ! Mike

During the pandemic, the Board took dozens of parent-funded iPads from our school to distribute to other schools. These iPads were never returned. Is this new fundraising policy meant to legitimize the Board's actions?

Home & School have a separate bank account and report to a separate organization so should not be included on the Boards Annual Fundraising Plan. BUT Any of their fundraising running through the School's bank account (collecting funds through School Cash Online should all be approved by the Principal since it involves the school' bank account and office staff).

There needs to be a point that states all fundraising done at the school (except for Home & School as they have their own separate bank account) is to be included on the Annual Fundraising Plan (AFP). Also that any initiatives added after the AFP has been submitted require a revised AFP to be submitted.

There needs to be a point that states funds raised in the school year are to be spent in that school year. Exception: large multi-year initiatives, but these need to be explained at the bottom of the Annual Fundraising Plan.

Does this mean Home & School Associations need to have their fundraisers included in the school's fundraising plan? OFHSA already regulates funds raised by H&S Associations, which operate separately from school boards (i.e., HWDSB).

Please review the section indicating that suggests that Home and School Association's fundraising plan be monitored, communicated and documented by school administration. This is in direct conflict with our OFHSA bylaws and should not be monitored or have any involvement with HWDSB.

Home and School associations are an incorporated entity outside of HWDSB. We are a recognized parent group within the Education Act and operate in partnership with school but independent of the board. This change in policy to have an administrator be responsible for our fundraising initiatives, is in direct conflict with a Home and School Association's mandate which operates under the guidance of the Ontario Federation of Home and School Associations and as a protected parent group within the Education Act. Our federation has been made aware of these proposed changes.

Who is responsible for ensuring that board rules are being followed? In my experience it seems to fall to parents to make sure other parents are following the rules.

This report is too high level to properly assess spending. There needs to be more transparency.

Too much necessary detail has been removed from this section of the policy. Where are the missing details going to be documented? The school generated funds handbook?

There needs to be much more here so that parents and others in the community know where all the money has gone. Our school's report was so high level, it's been impossible to identify missing funds. The principal should be required to circulate a detailed financial report to the whole school.

This needs to be put back in the policy: "Fundraising will reflect HWDSB’s mission, vision, values, strategic directions and policies." It is critical that board rules are followed in school fundraising. Current board rules are the only thing stopping reckless fundraising/spending at my school.

Has the idea of sharing fundraising money with other schools been tested before? Has the idea of sharing with others decrease equality among students and deter people to volunteer? If yes, then what were the results? If no, then maybe we should try a pilot project. I appreciate the transparency the school boards try to relay to parents.

Students should not be forced to "donate" so they can participate in school dances or other fun activities.

This needs to include that fundraising must not benefit businesses, corporations, private companies.

In the intention to eliminate all the previous points from the previous policy I.e under Intended outcome- it previously it mentioned that we are not allowed to purchase materials like textbooks for classrooms - does this mean this is allowed?

While I agree it's not a level playing field for all schools, we already struggle with getting volunteers to assist in events and fundraising. Having the results of all their hard work not go to benefit their own school would leave a bad taste with those that are currently willing to help. Re-distributing assets that were fundraised for also seems a little deceitful, as we tell the family and community what they're contributing towards when they support our endeavors. To then have the items redistributed the next year doesn't seem fair.

I think this needs to also be looked at holistically as some schools receive more funds for resources than others and fundraising helps offset this inequality as well. I also believe there is more transparency at a school level than the board level. However the board can be there as an audit and ensure transparency at school level. Maybe the board can do some of it's own fundraisers for board wide items that people can be involved in if they choose? I.e nutrition type programs. I think taking the funds from the schools fundraisers would decrease the value of funds raised as well due to administration fees etc. And we already lack in volunteers, this would diminish people willing to help further.

I strongly disagree with any sharing of funds between one parent group to another school/parent group. Those who volunteer and work hard for funds deserve the right for their children's school to benefit. If funds are made to be shared I believe there will be a sharp decline in fundraising Volunteering has diminished already and for those that put in the hard work shouldn't have to share with others, be it less capacity to fund raise or not Those that are given handouts will put less efforts if they're given handouts off the hard work of others