Cape schools' fund-raising profits cut down by costs

Cape Girardeau parents and others sunk more than $280,000 into cookie dough, candles and other fund-raiser products last year, though the district's eight schools only kept a portion of that money.

The amount of money raised at each school in the 2003-2004 school year varied from $11,650 at Jefferson Elementary to $113,573 at Central High School, though school officials say those figures don't necessarily represent pure profits. In some cases, a Parent-Teacher Association or other group may have taken in $30,000, but paid an outside company $15,000 for goods such as candles to sell.

With the impact of budget cuts, such extra money will become even more critical to schools this year, officials say.

"I think the district does a good job meeting needs, but if they want something extra, this allows them to do it," said Rob Huff, Cape Girardeau's chief financial officer. "There are always things out there you'd like to have."

At Clippard Elementary, the PTA raised $36,375 last year, according to financial reports turned in to the school board.

Of that amount, the PTA was able to keep about $12,000 for the school to spend on items such as three Smart Boards for classrooms and library books. The money also paid for mulch, herbicide for weeds around the school's playground and paint for the playground equipment.

If the PTA didn't raise the money for these playground items, the school district wouldn't provide it, said Kristy Mehner, a parent and treasurer for the Clippard PTA.

"There's not money in our budget for those things," said Clippard principal Sydney Herbst. "I think our parents can see where their money is going. They feel secure about it going right back to the kids."

In one fund raiser, Clippard's PTA sold $100 gift cards for Schnucks paying the grocery store about $24,000. The PTA kept about $1,200 from the deal, while the rest of the money from card sales went to the grocery store, Mehner said.

At Central High School, principal Dr. Mike Cowan said one major project his parent and student organizations undertook this year was the painting of a tiger mural above the school gymnasium. The work was funded by the high school's All School Boosters and the Student Senate.

"What our clubs manage to generate is amazing," Cowan said. "More than anything else, our parents have a strong commitment to public education. There's a sacrifice required in order for us to do everything we'd like to do."

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128