Wednesday, September 02, 2009
School fundraising has already begun
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Its slick, glossy pages were filled with festive wrapping paper samples and images of mouthwatering chocolates.
The fundraising packet showed up in the backpacks of students at Roanoke County's Penn Forest Elementary School.
On the second day of school.
A tad early?
Not so much, according to Chuck Lionberger, the school system's spokesman and president of the Roanoke County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations.
"Most schools get out of the gate pretty early on fundraising -- most within the first 2 [two] weeks," he wrote in an e-mail.
Before a PTA can spend money, it has to raise it, so most organizations try to get an early fundraiser under way as soon as the school year starts, he explained.
Fundraising, especially in today's tough economy, has become competitive. And many schools have moved beyond magazine subscriptions and candy bar sales.
Roanoke Catholic School began selling scrip about four years ago. Reloadable gift cards from hundreds of national retailers can be purchased, and the school receives a portion of the sale. Since 2005 the school has raised more than $6 million from selling scrip and about $275,000 of that amount has funded tuition assistance.
n n n
Eight Roanoke schools have new principals this year, six of whom were shuffled around as a result of the division's redrawn attendance zones and school closures:
n When Raleigh Court Elementary closed, Principal Babette Cribbs transferred to Wasena Elementary.
n Former Wasena Principal Eric Fisher moved to Preston Park Elementary.
n Former Preston Park Principal Karen McClung became principal at Huff Lane Intermediate.
n Former Oakland Intermediate Principal Greg Johnston will be Monterey Elementary's new leader when Oakland consolidates with Preston Park.
n Former Monterey Principal Ann Kreft transferred to Round Hill Montessori Primary.
n Kathy Tate left Round Hill to become Crystal Spring Elementary's principal.
n Seydric Williams is Westside Elementary's new principal. Former Principal Jeanette Warwick left the district to take another job. Williams is new to the division.
n Kathleen Duncan will lead the Roanoke Technical Education Center, where she previously was a teacher.
Additionally, William Fleming High will have two new hall principals -- Bill Birdlebough and Joe Harris.
