Want to Start a Fight? Let's Talk about School Fundraising
Yes, I know. It's quite early in the year but this rather fascinating op-ed just appeared in the NY Times about fundraising. What's interesting is that it is not about PTAs per se but about foundations that are created to support schools. (Most of our comprehensive high schools have them. Not sure about any others except I know Laurelhurst Elementary has one as well.) The op-ed, entitled "Not Very Giving" is by Rob Reich, a professor of political science at Stanford and co-director of the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society. (I'm linking the website but I haven't looked at it myself.) He starts off in his own backyard with a bang: Hillsborough is one of the wealthiest towns in the United States. Median family income is over $250,000, and residents enjoy one of the best school districts in the state. It’s not hard for Hillsborough families to donate to their own children’s school. These funds supplement the annual public spending of $13,500...