The Yellow Board

Band Boosters

Posted by Curious on 1/13/2021, 7:51 am

When a district creates a 2nd high school from a single high school district, what happens to the Booster organization's money? Is it split since the students are coming from the previous organization that paid into it and fundraised for it? Or does the new booster organization start from scratch? Anyone with experience with this scenario?

Re: Band Boosters

Posted by Step-child on 1/22/2021, 3:33 pm, in reply to "Band Boosters"

I was just just involved in a large split between an old high school and new one. The new booster organization received zero dollars from the legacy school. There was a bunch of animosity between the booster organizations, mainly because the new school cut into the legacy band booster‘s fund raising.
The current semester is the last semester of folks having kids at both the legacy and the new school.

Re: Band Boosters

Posted by Beagle on 1/13/2021, 2:45 pm, in reply to "Band Boosters"

Booster organizations are attached to the school with which they work. Money is property of the boosters, not of the students. Any "extra" money belongs to the boosters, not the school and not the student.

If the boosters want to send that money to the newly created booster program for the other campus, they can, but they're under no obligation to do so. If the existing boosters want to be neighborly and helpful, they CAN send money to the new program if they want, and many will choose to do so, but again, there's no obligation.

(Of course, making sure BOTH booster programs are fully incorporated as 501c3 non-profits helps)

Think of it this way: if a kid moves into your program from the next town over, does their booster money follow them? Do they cut a check and let the kid bring it with them? Of course not - and it's the same for multiple high school districts.

Re: Band Boosters

Posted by wrong on 1/14/2021, 7:22 am, in reply to "Re: Band Boosters"

Even though schools don't get very involved in booster business, booster funds belong to the school. Read the booster rules... boosters are supposed to give admin a budget and records of where funds are spent. If admin really wanted to they could divert money to other projects- non band- they won't but they could. Funds are raised for band using the school's name.

Re: Band Boosters

Posted by no, you're wrong. on 1/14/2021, 11:42 am, in reply to "Re: Band Boosters"

If they are a 501c3, they are a separate entity from the school. While they may work in conjunction with the band program and possibly the administration even going as far as needing band director or administrative approval (depending on how their by-laws are worded,) the money belongs to the organization and is spent how their by-laws dictate.
The school cannot just come a take the money and buy footballs.

If the booster organization gives (donates) money to the school, asking that the money be used for the band program, the school may use the money as they wish and buy their footballs. (Its a pretty rotten move on the part of admin, but it can and does happen)

The boosters should always buy the actual instruments/supplies that they intend the money be spent on and donate the items. The football team won't have much use for music stands.

Re: Band Boosters

Posted by Beagle on 1/14/2021, 4:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Band Boosters"

Wrong is actually right. Per the UIL booster guidelines, they're an organization set up and overseen by the campus leadership/superintendent designee.

If they set up as a wholly separate 501c3 charitable organization NOT as a school Booster organization, they can do what you say.

Re: Band Boosters

Posted by Interesting on 1/13/2021, 1:49 pm, in reply to "Band Boosters"

Most group's by-laws say that any money raised is for the benefit of that school's band program. I think it would be a nice gesture but should not be required.

« Back to index

243

[ The Yellow Board ]