Y3K Tutor In Your Home

Controversial School Fundraising: Needham, MA

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As some schools consider soliciting private individuals and companies to purchase naming rights, others would rather make do without. Needham Public Schools in Needham, MA do not allow sizeable grants or gifts unless there are no strings attached. This means that Needham will not permit large private donations in exchange for naming rights. In addition Needham Public Schools has a policy to not allow private donations that in their opinion would differently advantage a particular school or group within the schools. They will not accept private funds if the money is to be for a “pet project” of the donor because they believe that can lead to inequity among the schools and student population.

Another reason why Needham Public Schools do not involve themselves with receiving donations in exchange for naming rights is that they want sustainable funding. Needham believes that even though a corporation may support the school system with donations for a period of time, this money would not be available forever. If the Needham Public Schools becomes dependent on private money to fund particular programs or teachers, these programs would face rapid elimination if the private money were removed.

What do you think about school systems like Needham, MA that refuse large sums of money in exchange for naming rights? Send us an email and let us know.

Controversial School Fundraising: Newton, MA

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Schools desperate for funding during a sluggish economy have started to turn to private companies and individuals for financial support. For example Newton, MA’s aldermen are deciding on a controversial proposal by the Newton Schools Foundation. The plan is to raise as much as $6 million for educational technology for the Newton Public Schools by selling naming rights to high school spaces.

The district wants to expand the wireless capacity at schools, test out iPads, and offer teachers additional training. This however would cost them approximately $5.6 million over three years. That is far more than the current $1 million annual technology infrastructure budget. If the plan is approved, they should be able to fund all of this technology but at what cost?

The controversy with the naming rights issue comes down to the philosophical question of how much private commercial branding should be brought into the public schools. Is it morally acceptable to allow a private company into a public building and promote their product? Another issue is if Newton, MA were to allow naming rights, what names or types of businesses would be allowed and what may be deemed inappropriate? This easy corporate money may come at the cost of promoting items that for one reason or another some may find offensive. A part of the building could be named after a soft drink, candy bar, sneaker company that runs a foreign sweatshop, or a magazine or newspaper that has a slanted point of view.

The Newburyport Education Foundation has been selling naming rights for a few years. They have been using some of the money raised to update technology throughout the Newburyport Public Schools. They maintain that this money is used for underfunded items such as technology and not for funding basic school needs. Their approach is to sell naming rights as a tool to motivate large donors to donate money and recognize them for their contribution. They have raised as much as $1 million in three years.

Controversial GPA Change in Wellesley, MA?

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Wellesley High School in Wellesley, MA is considering revamping its grade point average system (GPA) in controversial fashion. They would go from a weighted GPA system where GPA is adjusted based on the difficulty of classes to an unweighted system where an “A” in an honors class is worth the same as an “A” in a lower level class.

There are no state or federal regulations as to how GPA is calculated and is left up to each school system. Currently Lexington High School in Lexington, MA already switched to the new unweighted system while Belmont, MA is in the process of doing the same. For the communities of Newton, MA and Arlington, MA, both weighted and unweighted GPAs are calculated.

Bake Sale Ban Controversy in Massachusetts

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations for schools were set to take effect on August 1, 2012 that would prevent the sales of several foods and drinks including cupcakes, cookies and brownies within 30 minutes of the start and end of school. The reason for these regulations is to fight childhood obesity. This would ban bake sales in schools. Many parent-teacher organizations and school clubs use bake sales as fundraisers to support various school causes. Is this a case of a big government “nanny state” telling you what is best for your family or a valid way to fight childhood obesity?

Since the announcement, this controversial issue has been discussed on radio, TV, and newspapers throughout Massachusetts and the United States. The uproar has been such that a Republican state representative sponsored an amendment in the Massachusetts House to lift the bake sale ban. The legislation would give individual school districts the choice to allow or ignore the bake sale ban regulations. The Massachusetts House and Senate adopted the amendment striking down the prohibition. The Public Health Commissioner later said that the department would reverse the bake sale ban before it is set to take effect. The ban will however, stay in effect for sweets sold at school cafeterias during the school day.

Temple Beth Shalom Needham, MA: Taste of the Town – A Toast to Our Children

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When attending the Taste of the Town – A Toast to Our Children event this coming Saturday at Temple Beth Shalom of Needham, MA, be sure to look for the Y3K Tutor In Your Home silent auction donation. This amazing event will raise money to support the temple’s educational youth programs. Without this event, the temple could not provide all of the classes and programs that make an education at Temple Beth Shalom so unique and enriching.

This year’s auction should be the highlight of the evening and we hope you will have a wonderful time bidding on all of the items including ours. You will find our Y3K Tutor In Your Home donation in the Taste of the Town – A Toast to Our Children Auction Catalog on page 7 under “Services”. Our tutoring donation is listed as item S5. Y3K Tutor In Your Home hopes that with our donation and your support, we can all help the children of Needham, MA.

Hillside Elementary School – Needham, MA

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Watch for the Y3K Tutor In Your Home prize for the Hillside Elementary School of Needham, MA calendar raffle. In exchange for raffle tickets, families will be entered to win a new prize every day of the fundraiser. This fundraiser raises money for the Hillside Elementary School’s enrichment programs including field trips, creative arts performances, books, technology, and other educational resources. All the money raised directly benefits the Hillside Elementary School. Y3K Tutor In Your Home is glad to donate to this fundraiser to help the students of Needham, MA.

Bullying Statistics – Needham MA

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According to a Needham Youth Services survey from Needham MA, 10th graders are most likely to be victims of bullies. 7th graders came in with the second highest statistics for bullying with 32% claiming they were bullied.

Online Grade Access

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Many school systems including Natick, MA make available a software portal that allows middle school and high school parents the opportunity to access their student’s grades online. Be sure to take advantage of this computer program if offered by your school.

Fur Ball 2012 – Animal Rescue League of Boston

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Y3K Tutor In Your Home is proud to donate tutoring to be auctioned off at the Fur Ball. Fur Ball 2012 is a dance party to benefit the Animal Rescue League of Boston and its programs. Join Y3K Tutor In Your Home at this event as we raise money for the rock stars of the animal world! The Fur Ball will feature DJ Big Missy playing the hits of the 1970’s and 1980’s, a silent auction of amazing items which includes our tutoring, and a “Best Dressed” competition.

All proceeds from the event will directly help the Animal Rescue League of Boston, a humane organization dedicated to rescuing and caring for animals that are injured, displaced, abandoned or abused. Your participation in the 2012 Fur Ball is greatly appreciated and crucial to helping sustain and grow the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s ability to provide outstanding rescue and care services to needy animals. On behalf of the animals and people aided by your generous auction bids for our tutoring services, we thank you for your support.

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