Seriously, this is the best use of the time of parents and the school board? Craft fair policies? When I read this I honestly thought it was a joke. There aren't enough real issues that a school board must help craft (pun intended thank you very much) answers to including the lack of funding support given to ALL students and schools? Really? From a city resident, educator and one who sends my kids to city schools, all I have to saw is wow.

@IO -
This is the kind of disconnect that makes it so hard to see unity across the city/county border. I'm sure there are plenty of schools in the county that have a lot in common with city schools in terms of social and economic issues and funding and building conditions. What you hear from county schools is not that end of the spectrum. It always seems to be whiny parents complaining about non-substantive issues.

I always find myself asking, "What planet are you from?"

From Liz:
In all fairness to the county parents, the reason this is such an issue is because those craft fairs raise tens of thousands of dollars each year for schools. One middle school raises about $13,000 a year. That money gets plowed back into the schools to pay for white boards or computers or new uniforms for a band or sports equipment. So, in effect, this is how some county schools get their extras. The issue isn't just holding the craft fairs

Seriously, this is the best use of the time of parents and the school board? Craft fair policies? When I read this I honestly thought it was a joke. There aren't enough real issues that a school board must help craft (pun intended thank you very much) answers to including the lack of funding support given to ALL students and schools? Really? From a city resident, educator and one who sends my kids to city schools, all I have to saw is wow.

What I don't get is a school board spending time on this stuff. I know how short changed our kids (and that includes all at public schools) are and that we are often stuck with fundraisers. Sometimes these are good ways to get parents involved, but often times parents rightly feel put upon. Personally I would rather just donate then sell pizzas or other stuff. Or maybe parents and school boards could spend the time in Annapolis pushing our elected leaders to fund us at levels that make the job possible. Nah, let's fight over craft fairs instead.

@Liz -
I'm still not seeing how this works in a working class reality. How can you make $13000 off of a craft fair? In my neighborhood you might be able to charge $25 - $50 for a crafter to have a table, but they keep the money they make. That would be 260 - 520 table rentals.

Or do you mean this school asks crafters to donate 100% of their proceeds and $13000 worth of crafts are sold? Given that most craft sellers are people trying to make ends meet I can't see giving up 100% of you proceeds, and selling $13000 worth of goods? I realize you might mean one fair a month or something, but how much money does a community have for this type of stuff.

Different planet.

"I realize you might mean one fair a month or something, but how much money does a community have for this type of stuff."

have you been to the central area of baltimore county in the timonium/lutherville/hunt valley area?

All schools everywhere (city/county/etc.) have the same problem - the economy is bad and there isn't enough money to go around.

The reason PTAs are fighting for Craft Fairs is that an annual art and craft show earns the school a ton of money without any parents having to buy bad, overpriced pizza or junk from China. Parents are tapped out from all the wrapping paper/pizza/chocolate fundraisers - we don't have the money to keep giving. But if you can hold a fun event that the community wants to come to, the community can throw in a few dollars here and there - painless for everyone and fun at the same time! It's also a way to support the local art community and involve kids in volunteering to help their school.

Ridgely Middle School's Craft Fair earns $13K-$14K every year for the school. Crafters pay $50 for a spot (100 crafters=$5000), visitors pay $2 to come, students sell donated or discounted goods for breakfast, lunch and dessert, and there's often a silent auction of donated goods/tickets (another $5000). It adds up.

I think city and county schools alike could benefit from an extra $13,000 to spend on cultural arts assemblies, marching band uniforms, scholarships, etc. Benefiting from extra school funding isn't unique to county schools!

Is the issue an insurance issue? PTA Council knows which activities on the PTA watch are permissible for each school based PTA and covered by the organization insurance.Perhaps the county and state delegates should fund the schools at a level where essentials like white boards are not at the mercy of a craft fair. The next time, one time technology expenses are requested to update all schools, the county executive needs to fund the request.
The 1949 agreement with the schools and Parks and Rec needs a steady funding stream behind it to assure $ needed to to run all school based community activities and provide substantial funding and adequate usage insurance. The schools do belong to the community, as does the adequate funding to properly financially and legally safeguard the activities and attendees. Maybe the county government can be directly in charge of all non-school based activities at schools and provide funding,supervision, liability and maintenance..