501 kids raise nearly $50K

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 20, 2009 by Taylor Atkins

By Taylor Atkins

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Topeka Unified School District 501 board members heard good financial news Thursday to the tune of nearly $50,000.

Pamela Johnson-Betts, executive director of the Topeka Public School Foundation, told the board that middle and elementary school students helped raise $48,045 for the foundation, which provides innovative educational grants for district teachers.

Students from one middle school and 13 elementary schools participated in a Major Saver Preferred Cards fundraiser for one week earlier this semester. The cards featured discounts to 15 local eateries and were sold for $10 each.

Between Feb. 26 and March 2, 9,609 cards were sold by students, who earned money for the district and such prizes as limo rides and pizza parties for themselves.

"I think what's really great is that the proceeds are shared with the participating schools," board president Peg McCarthy said during the meeting. "It's an incentive for the kids."

Johnson-Betts said the proceeds are split 50/50 between the Topeka School Foundation and participating schools, all of which volunteered to participate in the fundraiser. Next week, she said, the foundation will begin dividing the $24,022.50 between the schools.

Also Thursday, the board approved the formation of a permanent District Facilities Committee, a group whose duties could include deciding which school, if any, should be closed to help save money.

The committee, which will begin meeting in May, will be limited to residents of the district, but the superintendent will have some discretion.

The committee will be made up of school board members, teachers, administrators, a city council member, a neighborhood improvement association representative and others.

Finally, the board received a brief budget update that also had a more positive tone than budget discussions in the past.

Superintendent Kevin Singer told the board recent news from the Statehouse, which could change at anytime, has been indicating USD 501's budget for next year may not be quite as bleak as they expected.

But because stimulus money still is unknown and no legislation has been set in stone, Singer said he still isn't sure about the district's financial outlook.

"It's better today than what it was a month ago," Singer said about the district's financial situation. "It's still not good, but that's what we are looking at for right now."

Taylor Atkins can be reached

at (785) 295-1187

or taylor.atkins@cjonline.com.