FILE: JHB
ACTIVITIES FUND MANAGEMENT
It shall be the policy of the Catahoula Parish School Board that monies of all school-sponsored student organizations be deposited with the school's accounts in the principal's office daily. The sponsor of the organization shall be issued a receipt for each deposit, and he/she shall keep a record of the organization's account including all deposits and disbursements. Proper accounting of all school activity, organizational or other funds shall be in accordance with procedures outlined by the Superintendent.
FUNDRAISING GUIDELINES
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall be responsible for exercising control over all fundraising activities. He/she or his/her designee shall establish and maintain administrative regulations governing all school related fundraising activities. Such activities shall be continually monitored to assure proper management of all funds. The system of accounting for school monies shall be in conformity with the system of accounting recommended by the School Board and other appropriate authorities.
The following rules are established to govern fundraising activities:
Fundraisers must have prior approval by the principal and by the Superintendent or designee.
The principal is to coordinate fundraising activities in such a way that there is little or no overlapping of these activities in the school.
Each student participating in fundraising activities may be provided a letter of introduction and authorization on official school letterhead having the official school seal, prior to selling or soliciting. Door-to-door sales shall be prohibited for elementary students (grades K-6).
ONLINE FUNDING CAMPAIGNS (CROWDFUNDING)
Online fundraising campaigns (crowdfunding) refers to the process of soliciting or requesting a specific gift or donation utilizing the Internet, an online service, or website-based program for the financial benefit of the Catahoula Parish School Board by any school, classroom, grade, department, or curricular or extracurricular group or activity under the jurisdiction of the Catahoula Parish School Board. The use of online fundraising campaigns shall be permitted in Catahoula Parish schools under the following guidelines:
Requiring that all requested online fundraising campaigns be reviewed and approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
Directing the designated administrator to ensure that the proposed crowdfunding campaign does not violate any federal or state law, including those governing the confidentiality of student information, and that the campaign seeks donations that comport with the School Board’s education philosophy, needs and technical infrastructure.
Designating which online fundraising services may be used. These shall be services that send donations directly to the School Board, not to the teacher, to ensure that donations are not diverted or misused. The School Board shall also determine if participation with a given online fundraising site obligates the School Board to assume any responsibility to file government-required reports of charitable activities.
Requiring that donations only be used for the stated purpose(s).
Mandating that no donations shall be accepted without School Board approval.
Establishing that all online fundraising donations shall be the property of the School Board and shall be subject to normal financial oversight and auditing by School Board personnel.
The Superintendent and administrative staff shall be responsible for developing and maintaining pertinent regulations and procedures governing all online fundraising campaigns and activities.
Revised: November 5, 2019
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:414.3, 51:224
Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education
Board minutes, 11-5-19
Catahoula Parish School Board