ECASD Board of Directors Enacts Policy for Booster Organizations

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to enact policy 915 Parent/Guardian Booster/Support Organizations Thursday evening.

Policy 915 is as follows:

The Board recognizes the need for and the role of parent/guardian or community-based booster organizations to support the District’s academic, athletic and extracurricular activities. The Board also desires that all parent/guardian and booster organizations work together cooperatively for the best interests of students.

Authority

It is the responsibility of the Superintendent and the Board to recognize school-related organizations and to approve their activities.

The Board shall encourage the development of a Parent Teacher Organization or similar group as long as there is no interruption of normal school procedures and participation is entirely voluntary.

Booster organizations do not have the authority to direct the duties of a school district employee. The schedule of contests, rules for participation, methods for earning letters and all other criteria dealing with inter-school programs are under the jurisdiction of the local school administration.

All booster or support organizations must be recognized by the Board and shall adhere to the practices established in this policy in order to maintain good standing and recognition by the Board. Failure to comply shall result in the loss of Board recognition and the right to use school facilities.

Guidelines

All School-related organizations shall be recognized annually by the Board at a public meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District Board of School Directors. Only organizations that have been recognized by the board may operate as a district booster organization and are authorized to utilize the official district/activity name, logo, and colors. The District shall maintain an updated list of properly authorized school-related organizations in the Superintendent’s office.
Organizations shall submit to the Superintendent’s office, no later than July 1 on an annual basis, the organization’s bylaws, a listing of the organization’s officers and/or contact persons with current contact information, and an annual statement of financial records.
Organizations shall submit on an annual basis to the building principal, no later than July 1, a financial plan showing proposed fundraising and expenditures for an August 1 through July 31 operating program so that the administrative team can develop a comprehensive fundraising plan for all organizations that avoids duplication of effort. Proposals for fundraising submitted after July 1 will be integrated into the comprehensive fundraising plan when and where possible.
Organizations and their bylaws shall be in accordance with school board policies. All school board policies must be followed during any event or activity that is sponsored, directed or supported by a district recognized organization.
Organizations shall not require participation by students in any fundraising activity as a condition of participation in a school-sponsored program.
Organizations shall prohibit the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages at all functions on School District property or at any function at which students are in attendance.
Organizations shall prohibit the use of any tobacco product at all functions on School District property.
Organizations shall ensure that all purchases of equipment, uniforms, jerseys, pants, shirts, etc., using the name(s) of Ellwood City, Lincoln and Wolverines, or any elementary school, shall only use the school colors of royal blue and white. Black may also be used as an accent color only. All competition uniforms must only use the official school colors. Warm-up uniforms and sweatshirts/sweatpants may use school identifiers (logo and/or names) that are the official school colors printed on royal blue, white, black, or gray material
Organizations shall ensure that all requests for the use of school facilities comply with Board policy.
The Board requires that activities and programs sponsored by booster organizations not be in violation of PIAA rules or other regulatory standards.
The Board does not assume any financial responsibility for a booster organization and excludes itself from any liability a booster organization may occur.
Booster organizations shall not use the district tax exemption number for purchases.
Booster organizations should ensure that all proper licenses have been procured for proposed fundraising and activities. Proper documentation to this effect must be maintained by the organization’s leadership and readily available upon request from the district or other authority.

Delegation of Responsibility

The Superintendent or his/her designee shall have the authority to void any fundraising activity or expenditure/program that s/he believes is not necessary, not appropriate, or not in the best interests of the District.

The Superintendent and building principals shall meet during the month of July and review the proposed fundraising activities from all organizations to develop a comprehensive fundraising plan for all organizations that avoids duplication of effort.