The North Union Board of Education recently discussed allocating money to establish a separate fund for North Union Elementary School’s student council.
During the meeting on Monday, Board President Brian Davis asked why the elementary student council does not have an individual account in the district’s general fund, while the middle and high schools have their own funds.
“We have just never established that fund. It’s always run through the elementary 018 fund,” said Scott Maruniak, treasurer and CFO of the district.
After the meeting, Maruniak explained that most schools have an 018 account, which is often referred to as the principal’s fund.
“This is a fund used by the principal to pay for items at their discretion (of course they have limitations),” Maruniak wrote in an email.
Funds in the account can be used for staff meals, staff t-shirts, student events, student items, and more.
Maruniak said, “The principal’s fund also acts as a flow through for most field trips.”
“Usually the students pay an admission fee for the trip and the funds flow through the principal’s fund,” the treasurer explained.
Some funds in the elementary 018 account are earmarked for the Right to Read Week and book fairs, Darlene Allison, the elementary school principal, said during the meeting.
Superintendent Richard Baird and Maruniak explained that the advisers can complete an activity form if they desire to establish an activity account. Then, the board can establish a budget for the student council based on need.
Funds in the activity account are usually earned through fundraising, but the elementary student council, which consists of only fifth graders, has never conducted fundraisers.
Allison explained that the student council “usually does one project” annually, such as a canned food drive during the holiday season or selling candy grams to donate funds to the Union County Humane Society.
The student council also helps with setting up games for the family night, Allison said.
The principal said the goal of the elementary school student council is “getting them more active in being leaders in the school.”
Davis argued that the board should establish a fund for the student council because students should not have to buy their own t-shirts as part of the organization.
“How do we change it? Because I don’t agree with it,” he said.
Allison said she believed it would be up to the advisers to complete the activity form to receive funds.
“Why? You’re the leader of the building, Dar,” Davis said. “You’re the leader of the building. Take care of your people.”
North Union Middle School Principal Matt Burggraf said the student council does fundraise for school activities, like dances, but the students also buy their own shirts.
“Is there money being collected on the back end from our taxpayers, their parents, to pay for these shirts, for them to do the work for us? They’re doing the fundraising for us,” Davis said.
Allison said it is difficult for such young students to fundraise enough money for activities, so the funding comes from the 018 account.
“I’m not saying raise that kind of money. I’m saying they shouldn’t have to pay for a t-shirt to be a part of a group that they’re fundraising for your building,” Davis said.
Allison replied that the elementary students do not fundraise for the building. For the community service project, students donate 100% of the proceeds to the designated charity.
The board agreed that the students should not have to pay the expense of the shirts.
Board member Matt Hall asked about the monetary involvement for the instructors and Allison replied that the advisers for the elementary student council are paid $1,100 apiece.
“I understand what Mr. Davis is saying. I’m just looking at a different piece,” Hall said. “If this board is comfortable paying two instructors $1,100, why aren’t we funding the thing and why don’t we have basically a playbook as to how it’s supposed to be? And that’s at all levels – that’s at the high school, that’s at the junior high, that’s here.”
Hall argued that the advisers should establish a curriculum of activities “that build development and build leadership.”
“We’re already paying them, so let’s get our bang for our buck, and if it does cost us $500 or $700 to supply those students with what they need, I just think that’s the way we should go,” he said.
Board member Shelly Ehret agreed that the elementary school student council “should have their own separate account, just like they do in the high school and the junior high.”
“I have no problems with that. I told them to set up an activity account if they intended to do fundraising,” Allison said. “No activity account was set up.”
As advisers of the student council can change, Hall told Allison she could guide them in setting up an activity account.
“I think the real question is when we have an activity do we plant a seed, like when we did the club for soccer,” Baird said.
He turned to Davis and said, “What you’re asking is, and correct me if I’m wrong, is there an opportunity to start with seed money for some of these activity accounts?”
The board voiced favor of contributing seed money from the general fund to establish an account for the elementary student council, but members did not take a vote Monday.
A seed would be a one-time allocation to establish the elementary student council fund, and then the students could fundraise to grow the account.
Maruniak questioned the board about how far $500 in seed money will go when it’s being spent on t-shirts for the students. He also asked if the same amount is being moved into the middle and high school accounts.
Davis acknowledged that he has not asked the elementary advisers what they would like to do about activity funding, whether a separate account is set up or the organization is funded through the 018 account.
“But I don’t think it’s right what we’re doing now,” he said.