Students at the Thunder Bay’s two major school boards collectively raised more than $4.4 million during the 2009-10 school year, but officials with both boards say the money was not used to fund capital projects.
That sets Thunder Bay’s schools apart from about 15 per cent of the province’s schools, which a Tuesday report released by Ontario-based People For Education says have used money from student fees, fundraising efforts, vending machines and donations to make renovations or upgrades to their buildings.
All told Ontario schools raised $592 million in 2008-09, up four per cent from 2005-06.
But representatives of both local boards say they employ strict internal guidelines – in the absence of an official ministry of education policy – that dictate how school-generated funds may be spent.
"It’s supposed to be primarily used to support charitable organizations, which is the real cornerstone of it," said John De Faveri, director of education at the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, citing board policy. "Then the other part that we do allow is if fundraising is needed, for example, to defer costs of trips, if there are some excursions that are going out of the school, things of that nature."
There should be a minimal amount that would support other projects, generally at the school level, like property beautification or the addition of playground equipment not allocated for by the province.
Cathy Siemieniuk, director of education at Lakehead District School Board, said theirs is a comprehensive policy that specifically outlines what can and can’t be funded through fundraising or fees.
In the Lakehead Board’s official policy, students and parents are allowed to raise money to pay for field trips, beautification projects, special events like graduation, charities, community and class projects, travel to extracurricular activities and sporting events and other activities, as approved by the superintendent.
Raising money to pay for the purchase of classroom resources is not permitted, though parent organizations are allowed to collect money to pay for purchases that enhance the overall learning environment of the school.
"It really does direct how fees can be raised, what they can be raised for and how that money is channeled," Siemieniuk said. "We note from the (report) that we’re very much in line with boards of a similar size. We’re very pleased that our policy is being so closely adhered to."
De Faveri, whose schools raised $2.07 million in 2008-09, said the $592 million figure should be taken lightly, as provincial regulations require them to report all money generated, including things money paid by parents to cover the cost of Grade 12 trips overseas.
"Those funds being collected through the school, through the Public Sector Accounting Board’s criteria, is that has to show as revenue. But it’s not really revenue in because every single last penny, and probably then some, is going back out on the other end because there are the expenses to get the students there," De Faveri said.
But he added fundraising also creates inequities between schools in affluent neighbourhoods and those in economically challenged ones, which could lead to "have" and "have not" schools if left unchecked.
Premier Dalton McGuinty weighed in on the report on Wednesday, saying that raising funds to pay for capital projects, computers, classroom supplies or textbooks is unacceptable and suggested new guidelines might be forthcoming that would put an end to the practice.
"There are always going to be schools and parents who want to add a few frills," McGuinty told The Canadian Press. "That is one thing. But what we will not and cannot accept here in Ontario is that kids are out there fundraising for the basics."
