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Some students feel scammed by tv purchases
Anyone notice the two nice 47-inch TVs hanging in the St. John school cafeteria? They appeared just before we hosted the Sub-State Basketball Tournament. At least one of them was bought with STUCO (Student Council) money raised by the students through concession stands and candle sales BUT without the members’ permission. The purchase was given the OK by the organizational sponsor and approved by an administrator even though the students had not voted to use their money to buy it.
The students heard about the TV purchase from another organizational sponsor, NOT the STUCO advisor! When they asked the advisor about it she said “she had been too busy to have a STUCO meeting and visit with the students about it.” So why the big rush to buy and install theTVs?―because we were about to host Sub-State Basketball and apparently because other schools have them, we needed them, too. If you took the time to watch the TVs, you would have noticed that because the stationary camera is mounted on the ceiling of the gym, the image of what is happening on the floor is so small you can’t even tell which team is which―let alone see much of the action. Play-by-play,―there is none. See the scoreboard,―can’t.
When the students met with the advisor, they asked how much the TVs cost and neither she nor the administrator could tell them. They have asked the same question for the past month and still have not gotten an answer. Because the students were upset about money they raised being spent without their permission, they circulated a petition asking that the funds used for the TV purchase be reimbursed to the STUCO account. Three-fourths of the high school students signed the petition. That should speak loudly to the students’ wishes. Twice the advisor has said that the superintendent has told her that sponsors do not need the permission of the organization to spend the money (that the students have worked to raise)!!
When asked about what the TVs would be used for it was mentioned that besides sports, it could also be used to broadcast the Band Dessert Concert and graduation exercises to an overflow crowd. Without sound capabilities, how exciting is it to watch the band members play their instruments? And could you even tell who was walking across the stage receiving their diploma?
Some students feel scammed by tv purchases
Anyone notice the two nice 47-inch TVs hanging in the St. John school cafeteria? They appeared just before we hosted the Sub-State Basketball Tournament. At least one of them was bought with STUCO (Student Council) money raised by the students through concession stands and candle sales BUT without the members’ permission. The purchase was given the OK by the organizational sponsor and approved by an administrator even though the students had not voted to use their money to buy it.
The students heard about the TV purchase from another organizational sponsor, NOT the STUCO advisor! When they asked the advisor about it she said “she had been too busy to have a STUCO meeting and visit with the students about it.” So why the big rush to buy and install theTVs?―because we were about to host Sub-State Basketball and apparently because other schools have them, we needed them, too. If you took the time to watch the TVs, you would have noticed that because the stationary camera is mounted on the ceiling of the gym, the image of what is happening on the floor is so small you can’t even tell which team is which―let alone see much of the action. Play-by-play,―there is none. See the scoreboard,―can’t.
When the students met with the advisor, they asked how much the TVs cost and neither she nor the administrator could tell them. They have asked the same question for the past month and still have not gotten an answer. Because the students were upset about money they raised being spent without their permission, they circulated a petition asking that the funds used for the TV purchase be reimbursed to the STUCO account. Three-fourths of the high school students signed the petition. That should speak loudly to the students’ wishes. Twice the advisor has said that the superintendent has told her that sponsors do not need the permission of the organization to spend the money (that the students have worked to raise)!!
When asked about what the TVs would be used for it was mentioned that besides sports, it could also be used to broadcast the Band Dessert Concert and graduation exercises to an overflow crowd. Without sound capabilities, how exciting is it to watch the band members play their instruments? And could you even tell who was walking across the stage receiving their diploma?
I guess, there is one plus to the TV’s. They do have cable hook-ups, so they can be turned on during the day to broadcast information. So far, they have been used during the lunch hour to play the KU basketball games. Sounds like a good educational use to me!
Another quirk to this whole situation is that the STUCO members were told they didn’t have enough money to hire a DJ for the Winter Homecoming dance, but less than a month later there was enough money to buy an $700-plus dollar TV.
STUCO has changed a lot since I was in high school. Then it was a student led organization where we had the opportunity to learn leadership skills, practice decision making skills through utilizing committees and voting, and get a better understanding of how our democratic system works. The faculty sponsor was there to give assistance and guidance when needed―not make decisions on their own or spend the student raised money without their permission.
School and its organizations are supposed to be a place where students can gain valuable lessons―and I guess that has happened here―it just wasn’t a very positive one.
Linda Gleason
