Page 18 - The EDGE BTS 2024

PTOS AND BOOSTERS

BY DON HARRIS
Dale Ponder Priscilla Ruiz Karin Smith
Booster Clubs, PTOs Play an Important Role

in School Finances

Leveraging support, including financial, from local recognizing them, Ponder recalled an incident
booster clubs and parent-teacher organizations can when a PTO member got involved in questionable
be extremely beneficial to school districts, but there financial withdrawals.
are laws and guidelines that must be followed.
“You want to be sure that the resources are going
In a breakout session at the AASBO Summer for the stated purpose,” Ponder said.
Conference and Expo, the do’s, don’ts and benefits
were spelled out by Dale Ponder, Crane Elementary Crane Elementary put together a manual for
School District in Yuma: Priscilla Ruiz, Phoenix Booster Clubs and PTOs that includes defining
Union High School District, and Karin Smith, various parent support groups, fundraising, joint
HeinfeldMeech. fundraising, raffles and games of chance and silent
auctions.
Under the gift clause of the Arizona Constitution,
school districts are prohibited from becoming a Crane also has guidelines for operations and
shareholder or joint owner of a corporation, except financial responsibility, including the training
as otherwise authorized by law. Absent express for staff members and student involvement. In
statutory authority, a school district does not addition, Crane requires annual an application by
have the power to create a PTO or Booster Club. support organizations, Governing Board approval,
Likewise, Smith explained, there is no statutory contact information for officers, and an assortment
authority for a school district to create or operate a of banking and tax information.
PTO or Booster Club.
Ruiz spelled out the process at Phoenix Union High
“So, consider what a school cannot do, or has School District, which provides guidelines for
limitations in doing when it comes to Booster operation and financial responsibility of support
Clubs and PTOs,” Smith said. organizations and specifies that each Booster/
Parent Support Organization is a separate legal
It is important to formally recognize specific booster entity. Phoenix Union obtains the tax ID number
clubs to prevent any other group from claiming from the IRS, and establishes a bank account that
that status, according to Smith. Furthermore, acts requires two signatures on all checks.
committed by or against a PTO, booster or their
members are generally excluded from liability Ruiz emphasized that PUHSD or schools “cannot
coverage, but Smith noted that the Trust does offer be used in the title on the bank account nor the
coverage via an endorsement. district Tax ID.”

To emphasize the importance of thoroughly When it comes to requirements and limitations, an
researching an organization before formally Attorney General’s opinion is clear that students

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18 THE EDGE BACK TO SCHOOL 2024