Clarification on District Policy Regarding Making Donations
10/1/2008

DATE:       September 19, 2008

TO:            All Principals

FROM:      Lois Rockney, Chief Business Officer

 

Under Minnesota Law, school districts are not permitted to use public funds to make donations to any student, staff, parent, outside organization or outside party.  Therefore, no school can make a donation on behalf of the school to any person or organization.

 

The only exception would be if a school club or organization, such as the Student Council, raised money through a school related activity to benefit a person or an organization.  In that case, the money collected in the fund raising event must be donated to the person or organization specified as a part of the fund raising activity.  The money so collected should be deposited in the club’s intraschool account and the check written from the same account.

 

No school in Saint Paul Public Schools should be writing checks from general fund budget accounts for donations.  No checks for donations can be drawn against the intraschool account unless the parameters noted above have been met