Budget surplus will benefit every student and family

Brookdale parents may no longer be asked to contribute toward classroom parties, thanks to a new approach being taken by the PTA.

The organization will foot the bill for classroom parties for the rest of this year, setting aside $1,100 so that each class will have $50 to split between the two remaining parties. Next year, the PTA would increase the allocation to $75 per classroom to cover all three parties, PTA President Barb Peterson said.

The move aims to eliminate one request for money that parents receive at the beginning of each school year while making the party planning resources more equitable. Each year, some classes receive generous donations toward parties while others receive minimal contributions.

“We are hoping to make that more equitable,” Peterson said. “Our hope is that the parties (in classrooms where families have donated more money) will not become overloaded with stuff that was purchased, but that all classrooms will be filled with interaction and activities.”

Donations collected for this year’s parties likely will be put toward year-end gifts for teachers.

The expense, approved Thursday, comes with the caveat that part of the money be spent on buying bottled water for children to drink at the parties. Some members had asked last month whether the PTA could provide drinks. Until this year, the PTA had provided juice for the parties but cut the $500 expense to help ensure a balanced budget for the 2010-11 school year.

The PTA can afford the added expense because revenues for the 2009-10 school year outpaced expenses by about $3,500. The budget had anticipated a shortfall of nearly $3,500.

Beyond funding classroom parties, the PTA is restoring its field trip contribution to $6 per student, doubling the amount budgeted for this school year. All grade levels will have at least one field trip before the end of the year and an opportunity to use the additional money.

The increase in field trip contributions adds $1,575 in expenses to the current budget.

PTA members also voted to add $100 to the budget for the Fall Family Fun Fest, scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29. The annual event is being re-imagined this year to incorporate Halloween as the fall classroom parties were moved from late October into September and the daytime costume parade eliminated. The addition brings the event budget to $450, and organizers plan to suggest a donation of $1 per family to offset additional costs.

Additionally, PTA members agreed to consider increasing spending on assemblies. The current budget earmarks $2,000 for assemblies, a decrease of $500 from the previous school year. Members would vote on an increase if and when it is needed to provide an opportunity for Brookdale students.