What parents spend outside the classroom in extra-curricular enrichment for their child’s education is nobody else’s business but theirs. However, parental fundraising for in-school enrichment programs where their children attend should now be a ongoing concern to the School District and School Board.
Funding Gap = Student Inequity
I've been told that incoming families to the El Marino Language Immersion Program are “asked to donate” $500 each year their child is in the program. Now, with over 800 students at El Marino, that could be $400,000 raised. If you add to that the $100,000 annually raised by the school’s Booster Club, that would come to a half-million dollars raised above a the ADA the state gives our District to educate our students.
A Clear Discrepancy
La Ballona Elementary Booster Club is able raise about $30,000 a year. El Rincon’s club takes in only around $10,000 annually. Why such a big fund-raising gap among these elementary schools? Why has it been left unchecked and hidden for the past 20 years?
It is time for this District to look at ways to lessen this seemingly ever-growing funding gap between our elementary schools and their internal spending on their students.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
