The Tierrasanta Elementary School (TES) Foundation and PTA created Parent’s Choice in 2005. Parent’s Choice is a program that provides families an opportunity to choose how they would like to enrich their children’s education and support their local school Foundation and PTA. Parent’s Choice is an alternative to traditional fundraising, which includes the sale of products such as gift wrap and gourmet food items. If successful, Parent’s Choice could replace the need to contract with these types of outside vendors used to raise funds for Tierrasanta Elementary School. Our goal is to raise a net $50,000 annually through Parent’s Choice and eliminate our reliance on outside vendors to raise funds for our school.
The San Diego City School District has undergone severe budget cuts limiting the amount of funds available to schools. Such limitations have caused school equipment to fall into disrepair, the reduction of custodial and administration hours and the cancellation of education enrichment programs. School faculty and administration have come to rely on their respective Foundation and PTA to supplement and enhance the existing education curriculum for our children. In the past, parents have supported their Foundation and PTA through outside vendor organized events in the name of higher academic achievement. These outside vendors keep as much as 50%-60% of the profits after we, the parents, do all the work!
Parent’s Choice gives you the option to choose how to support the TES Foundation and PTA on your terms and not an outside vendor. Parent’s Choice allows parents to choose one of three options
Understand that the choice to select Option #1 does not preclude you from receiving fundraiser materials and/or participating in these activities. As always it remains at your discretion what level of support or contribution you provide. Lastly, know that no child will be excluded from any fundraiser classroom party as a result of choosing Option #1.
Option #1 - Contribution of $150 per child enrolled at TES. This amount is based on Foundation/PTA prior school term expenses. To accommodate families with multiple children enrolled at TES, a discount of 10% per child is provided (Example: A $150 contribution x 2 children enrolled at TES = $300, less 20% discount = $240 contribution). If you choose this level of support, your annual tax-deductible contribution will include a Roadrunner Spirit Package comprised of a TES PTA family membership (value $25.00), and a solid red or yellow youth Roadrunner T-shirt (value $7.00) for each child. All participants at this level will receive a formal Letter of Confirmation and Receipt of Charitable Contribution in January, 2009. Contribution is due on or before October 31, 2008.
Option #2 – To accommodate families that enjoy the art of sales, you can show your support and choose to participate in the traditional fall and/or spring fundraisers. The fundraiser(s) will provide for separate buy-out amounts of $50, $75 or $100 per enrolled child at Tierrasanta Elementary School. Families can choose any amount or whether or not to contribute during the fall, spring or both fundraisers. All buy-out contribution amounts are considered tax deductible.
Option #3 - To accommodate families that prefer to volunteer service hours in lieu of a monetary contribution, please provide your name, phone number and email address on the attached form for a TES PTA member to contact you.
Q: How are the Parent’s Choice monies used?
A: The Parent’s Choice program is designed to spend the monies in the same school year said monies are contributed and earned. With your support, Parent’s Choice will allow the Art Corps Program as well as the performing arts program as provided by the San Diego Junior Theatre to continue at Tierrasanta Elementary School. The supplies to teach Science lab and Friday Science Club will carry on for the benefit of all students. Events such as the Science Fair and the Art Show have been scheduled. Celebrations including Multicultural Assemblies and the Variety Show have been calendared too. The TES Foundation and PTA organize, manage and provide all of these activities and more. Classroom grants, book donations and school equipment are purchased and provided to the school by the TES Foundation and PTA.
Q: What are Classroom Grants?
A: As part of the TES Foundation budget process (and after the close of Parent's Choice), the TES Foundation governing council reviews the programs and needs of the school. Depending on the amount of monies raised from Parent's Choice, monies are set aside for each grade level in the form of a "classroom grant". Faculty at each grade level meet and determine as a group how best to meet the needs of the students, enrich the school curriculumn and spend their classroom grant. Their decisions are summarized on a Grant Application form which is further reviewed and approved by the principal of the school and the TES Foundation governing council. All persons involved work together to make the best decisions for the school and its students.
Q: What percent of Parent’s Choice funds are spent in the year earned?
A: 100% of the funds are spent in the school year earned. The amount of funds earned is dependent upon the annual parent support and participation.
Q: Can monetary contributions be tax deductible?
A: The TES Foundation is a qualified non-profit IRC 501(c)(3) corporation. Monetary contributions are eligible for tax deduction. Parent’s Choice contributions equal to or greater than $150 will receive a formal Confirmation and Receipt of Charitable Contribution letter in the following January/February.
Q: What is an employer matching program?
A: Rules and guidelines set up an employer that match contributions to a charitable organization by an employee. Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match charitable contributions made by their employees, possibly doubling or tripling the impact of your contribution. Some companies even match gifts made by spouses. Contact your company's Human Resources department to see if your employer (or your spouse's employer) has an employer matching gift or contribution program.
Q: Which employers match charitable donations?
A: Information changes and so we encourage you to check with your Human Resources department to confirm whether or not your employer matches charitable donations. Below is a list we have compiled in recent years: Callaway Golf, Costco, Ericsson, Gen-Probe, Goodrich Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, Intuit, Markham Corp, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Northrop Grumman, Pfizer, Pitney Bowes, Prudential, Qualcomm, Raytheon, Sagemate Consulting, Sempra/SDG&E, Sony, State Farm, Wells Fargo.
Q: Does TES Foundation qualify as a charitable organization for employer matching contribution programs?
A: The TES Foundation is a qualified non-profit IRC 501(c)(3) corporation and is considered a charitable organization. Employer matching programs are designed by an employer's administration. Guidelines and rules vary among corporations and businesses. Please check with your employer's Human Resources department for instructions, guidelines and forms.
Q: How do I participate in the Parent’s Choice program?
A: It's easy! Complete a Selection Form and submit with payment to the school office for processing. To save dollars otherwise spent on postage, Parent’s Choice literature and selection forms are sent home with students in the Monday envelopes in September.
Additional forms can be found in the school office.
Q: When is the Parent’s Choice Selection Form due?
A: To facilitate planning, the deadline to submit the Parent’s Choice Selection Form with payment is October 31, 2008.
Q: Does the Parent’s Choice program support and benefit the PTA?
A: Absolutely. The Parent’s Choice program is managed by the TES Foundation, which supports PTA in all of its endeavors. Only by working together can these two groups provide the programs and services you expect.
