My wife teaches at an elementary school in Temperance Michigan. They recently had an auction to raise money for the school, for things such as supplies, athletic equipment, computers and other school needs. Instead of sending kids out to sell overpriced candles or candy bars, they used their imaginations and held an auction.
Some things put up for auction were a tea party with a particular teacher. Which took in $350 by the way. The school raised over $7,000 in a couple hours.
What my wife and other teachers found, was that parents are more than willing to dish out cash for the school when they get to decide when and how much.
My wife and I discussed the possiblity that TPS is actually putting a ceiling on their revenue/financial help by forcing property owners to give to the school through ever increasing taxes. By taxing property owners, TPS is only guaranteed a certain amount of money based on how many property owners there are and the value of their home.
What if they didn't tax Toledo residents for schools and actually let them freely give to their own individual schools? Chances are...parents would probably give more money with ideas like this auction than they do in taxes in a whole year. Also, only the people using these schools would be supplying their money as they see fit...not putting the burden on property owners who don't have kids in school.
The tea parties and other "prizes" for the parents to bid on did not cost anything but time and some brain work to come up with creative things to bid on. No cost of stupid products that kids have to sell at ridiculous prices to people who don't want them.
Finally...the auction brought parents to the school and really helped teacher/parent relations.
Maybe TPS needs to get a little more creative and they could kill a couple birds with one stone and stop taxing property owners to death.
This is a really neat idea. It may work for some schools and others it might be more difficult.
What I like about it is that it gives everyone the opportunity to assist in the organization of an auction and then attending it. $7,000 for a few hours plus all the excitement that it generated is priceless. Raising money for extras from fund raising companies helps mainly the fund raising companies so I really like this idea.
Many districts have created foundations for this very reason so people can donate and offer funding for things beyond the 3Rs etc. State and local funding does have it limitations so expanding beyond that to help funish the schools with "extras" is a great idea.
You're right TPS needs to be a little more creative. Thanks for sharing this great idea and to the work and dedication your spouse provides to the students at this particular school.
... using a combination of online, and offline, auctions. This is the link I found, http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/06/22/41auction.h24.html.
Google "auction funds for schools", and then look for link with edweek.org, and that should take you to the article "Online Auctions Prove Boon for School Fund-Raisers".