Knights Club Fundraising Campaign FAQ’s
Contact Gina Keith with any questions at [email protected] or 281-224-3539
I pay high property taxes, don’t those pay for our public schools?
No, because the “Robin Hood” bill, takes property tax revenues from property “rich” districts and redistributes them to other districts. SBISD is a “giver district” and is forced by law to give millions of our tax dollars away every year to other districts. So while our property tax dollars may pay for some of our most basic school needs, there are still countless needs that our PTA donations must meet. For more information on Texas school finance, please attend the NHE PTA meeting on Dec. 6 at which an SBISD board member will present on these issues.
Aren’t we a Title I school that gets federal money?
Currently, yes. However, we are barely above the threshold (40% of students socioeconomically disadvantaged) for receiving funds and with NHE’s demographic population rapidly changing we will likely fall below the threshold within a year or so. Unfortunately, we will just barely fall below the Title I threshold, so while the federal funds will disappear, our needs will likely remain much the same. NHE stands to lose about $60,000 per year
Doesn’t the PTA already have a budget that pays for many things at NHE? What does that budget pay for?
Yes, the current budget pays for (among many other things): PTA funded salaries, technology, curriculum needs, grade level supplies, enrichment, Extreme Science, field trips, Math & Science Night, professional development for our educators, campus maintenance/beautification, Butterfly & Vegetable Gardens, Think Stretch Books, Art, Health/Fitness and Music. For more information, please see the NHE PTA Budget at http://www.nottinghampta.org/.
Why is the PTA funding salaries? Shouldn’t SBISD pay for that?
SBISD used to pay for math & reading specialists and Interdisciplinary Coach positions because they are so crucial to student and teacher success. Now, however, with Robin Hood forced budget cuts, only schools that are in academic peril receive this funding. NHE PTA funds are used to pay for our reading and math specialist positions, Interdisciplinary Coaches, and student math tutoring. PTA funds are also used for professional development for our educators. All of these are critical in order to continue the academic success and upward trajectory we have had at NHE.
Why is the PTA trying to raise money in addition to the funds listed in the budget?
The PTA can do SO much more for NHE with your help! SBISD is moving towards more personalized learning for every student and the PTA can help NHE be better equipped to meet that vision. Some initial ideas from Mr. Moore:
- Furniture – trapezoidal tables to allow for more flexibility in seating and classroom setup, couches for reading, bike desks for kids who can’t sit still
- Technology - Update the Computers on Wheels, Chromebooks and purchase complete class sets
- Literacy - More lower level readers for the Guided Reading Room to improve students’ grade level reading percentage
What are the benefits of donating through Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF, earmarked specifically for the NHE PTA) instead of directly to the NHE PTA?
- SBEF donors can specify that 100% of the donation goes exclusively to the NHE PTA
- SBEF as a foundation instead of a PTA, is often more appealing to corporations who will not donate or match donations to a PTA but will to a foundation
- Payment plans are available
- Donations other than cash and checks are accepted (e.g. – stocks, bequests, etc.)
- IRS receipts are handled by SBEF instead of the PTA
- Easy online credit card donation option
What could my donation pay for?
- $50:
- Purchase supplies for a classroom or health fitness
- One sno-cone Friday
- Purchase supplies for a classroom or health fitness
- $100:
- Teacher stipend/class supplies
- Participate in the national spelling bee
- Participate in Reflections (national art contest)
- Teacher stipend/class supplies
- $250:
- Monthly staff appreciation luncheon
- Quarterly Principal’s award celebration for students
- $500:
- Field Trip for an entire grade
- Supports health fitness
- Supports music programs
- Supports Think Stretch summer learning program (workbooks)
- $1,000:
- Maintains vegetable and butterfly gardens for a year
- $1,500:
- Purchase a Chrome book for students to use
- Math and Science Night for the entire school
- $2,500:
- Two months of reading and math specialist salary supplements
- A year of Extreme Science (4th – 5th grades + 3rd grade end of year “teaser”)
- $5,000:
- STAAR test tutors
- Maintain school grounds for a year (campus beautification)