PLACENTIA, YORBA LINDA : Hiring Ban Weighed for Booster Clubs

A policy that would prohibit parent groups from directly hiring or paying school employees, such as band assistants and athletic coaches, is being considered by the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Trustees.

The policy would address school-connected organizations, such as booster clubs, that raise money for athletic teams, school bands, dance and cheerleading teams and other extracurricular programs. Such organizations would also be required to report the names of all members and provide a written statement of purpose and bylaws.

In many cases, booster clubs already work through the schools’ Associated Student Body to pay assistant coaches, trainers and music instructors to supplement school employees. But according to Kim Stallings, assistant superintendent for administrative services, some booster clubs may be paying employees directly.

“We’ve been talking to the groups, trying to bring them around,” Stallings said.

Stallings said there were at least 100 booster groups at the district’s four high schools, five middle and junior high schools and 19 elementary schools. Some sports team booster groups raise more than $100,000 for the sport, while others might raise just enough for a drama production, Stallings said.

Although the district must approve all booster club hires, it cannot dictate how money raised by such organizations is spent. School principals have the authority to disallow a booster club’s activities if they aren’t in the best interest of the school.

But as schools face ever-tightening budgets, booster clubs, and their ability to raise money, become more important in a school’s ability to offer extracurricular activities.

“There are two sides to the booster clubs,” said Valencia High School Principal Joseph Quartucci.

Parents who raise money for a school program may disagree with school employees on how that program should be run, Quartucci said. But the payoff is that the school can offer activities at a level not possible without the increased funding, he said.

Quartucci said the approximately 10 active booster clubs at Valencia maintain a good working relationship with such school employees as band directors and athletic coaches.

The clubs, which Quartucci estimated have raised $20,000 to $30,000 this year, are particularly important for organizations such as the school’s award-winning band.

“The band is so successful that it needs more money than the school can provide,” Quartucci said.

Valencia Instrumental Parents raised about $16,000 for the band during the 1991-1992 school year, said band director Phil Mortensen. That money was used to hire nine assistants, reduce fees for band members and purchase new equipment.