Don Severson, President, 608/238-8300, Madison

Following is a proposal for funding of extra-curricular activities in the Madison Metropolitan School District.

1. MMSD Board of Education (BOE) define and identify all activities that it deems are extra-curricular

· As differentiated from academic courses required by state standards and or MMSD graduation requirements

· Not differentiated by whether during school day time or after school

2. BOE establish a policy that ALL extra-curricular activities are important, valued and will be included in the processes for determining the funding system

3. Apply cost analysis methodologies equally to ALL activities defined as extra-curricular
• All staffing, facilities, equipment, supplies, operational and maintenance costs attributable to the activity to be included

4. Move to establish an “Advisory Council” of extra-curricular activities representatives
• Assist the District in guiding the overall funding and operational policies and functions of extra-curricular activities
• Members representative of parents, staff, community, volunteers and students.

5. Move to establish a multi-tier funding system
• Identify a straight base-line percentage of each extra-curricular activity to be funded by tax supported revenues (current level is 82%)
• Identify a straight base-line percentage of each extra-curricular activity to be funded by fees assessed for each participant
• Identify a straight base-line percentage of each extra-curricular activity to be funded by fund-raising activities

i. could be done by staff, participants, parents, volunteers, etc. for each activity; or,

ii. could be done by staff, participants, parents, volunteers, etc. for all activities combined into a central fund for allocation to each activity

• Identify a straight base-line percentage of each extra-curricular activity to be funded through a foundation established for contributions from sponsors, donors, etc.

i. Preferable to establish a stand-alone foundation governed by a board of directors

ii. Could be a separate foundation ‘attached’ to the existing foundation supporting the district for different purposes

EXAMPLE

Regardless of the cost of an extra-curricular activity the base-line percentage would apply equally to each activity

XX% Tax supported operations revenue

XX% Fees

XX% Fund raising

XX% Foundation

100% covering the specific cost, as analyzed, for each activity

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