Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 7972 |
| Work Detail | Citing a recent incident in which two youths going door-to-door with an adult for a band fundraiser encountered a person with a gun, Washington County Public Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said Tuesday that his top concern about such campaigns is student safety. Wilcox noted the August incident, which happened to the Williamsport High School band, during a discussion about a proposed fundraising policy at a Washington County Board of Education business meeting. "But for a second, we had high-school kids who were in jeopardy. Because had the person not been a rational-thinking person who answered the door, a tragedy could have existed right in our midst. So I'm not sure that I want kids going door to door anymore, even high-school kids," Wilcox told the board. The resident came to the door with a handgun for protection because apparently there had been a previous incident in the area unrelated to the students, Wilcox said after the meeting. He said that his understanding was the resident told the youths to get off the property, and there was no discussion about the fundraiser. The board voted 5-0 on Tuesday to approve the first reading of the proposed fundraising policy, which affects PTAs and booster clubs. However, at least two board members pointed out issues they had with the proposal, which still needs a second vote to be adopted. Board members Mike Guessford and Karen Harshman were absent from the meeting. Under the proposed policy, elementary school students would be prohibited from doing door-to-door solicitations, while the board would discourage middle- and high-school students from doing so. The board not only heard concerns about the proposal from Wilcox and board members, but also from the president of the Maryland PTA and two booster officials. Board member Wayne Ridenour said he would have a problem if the proposed policy continues to ban raffle fundraisers from being held on school property. Ridenour, who has bought raffle tickets, said he knows the impact the elimination of such fundraisers could have on choral groups, band boosters and some athletic programs. Upon learning that the board's chief legal counsel, Anthony Trotta, was going to seek clarification regarding the legality of such fundraisers on school property, Ridenour said "be careful what you wish for." Wilcox said he also has participated in such raffles and viewed it as making a donation rather than gambling. Many times, the winner gives the money back to the organization, he said. Maryland PTA President Elizabeth Ysla Leight shared some information from her written testimony with the board during the public comments' portion of the meeting. In an interview, Leight said the proposal would curtail some PTA activities, and she is concerned about the influence principals would have. "Of primary concern is the oversight of school programs or activities that mandate approval by the school principal," Leight said in her written testimony. Although the policy, if approved, would take effect Jan. 14, Trotta said organizations would have until June 30, 2017, to update their bylaws. Board member Jacqueline Fischer, who is the chairwoman of the Policy Committee, said whether the fundraising policy will come before the board for its second vote on Oct. 4 depends on how many more comments the panel receives. The committee is expected to discuss the comments on Sept. 20, she said. |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Industry | Education & Training |
| Entry Date | 15 Oct 2016 |
| Source | http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/local/washington-county-boe-approves-first-reading-of-new-fundraising-policy/article_7924bbb2-748d-11e6-b7a6-bf8c37d67b2c.html |
