TPSC struggles financially

News — By admin on February 26, 2010 1:30 pm

By Rosalie Chan, Staff Reporter

After using most of their funds for the excessive number of students who attended last year’s post-prom, the Teacher Parent Student Council needs financial assistance to try to raise money for this year’s post-prom.

The TPSC sponsors post-prom every year, and they cover part of the cost for students. About 350 students attended post-prom last year.

“Last year’s post-prom was extremely successful. It was way over what we had expected,” Emily Rodriguez, math teacher and member of the TPSC, said.

Post-prom takes place on a Lake Michigan Kanan cruise boat out of Navy Pier. Together the charter bus transportation, the two hour cruise and hoodies cost $83 dollars per student, but the TPSC only charged $20 last year.

According to Lazaro Lopez, principal, the TPSC expected only 150 students to attend. Because of the extra students that attended, the TPSC had to pay more for the event.

“Our error was in not limiting how many kids can go,” Mindy McClellan, president of the TPSC, said.

According to Ed Zaretsky, secretary of the TPSC, the organization struggles financially because they did not invest energy and effort in fund-raising and have very low parent participation.

“We plan to get more parents involved and get greater exposure to the communities Wheeling High School serves,” Mr. Zaretsky said.

The TPSC will have to charge more per student at this year’s post-prom. It may cost $30 to $40. Unlike last year, students will not receive sweatshirts, and the TPSC will limit the number of students who can attend.

“I’d love to be able to do that again (charge $20) but I can’t foresee that happening again,” Val Meier, treasurer of the TPSC, said.

To raise money, the TPSC sells cookies after school once a week in the main foyer. They also hold benefit nights at restaurants such as Continental and Wapaghetti’s, sell gift cards and seek corporate sponsors and donations.

“We’re looking to do another restaurant night or two before post-prom,” Ms. Meier said.

The TPSC will not fund grants for activities, sports and scholarships for seniors as they did in the past years because they still have to cover the costs of last year’s post-prom.

“Times are hard so businesses donate less,” Lana Wieser, post prom chairperson, said.

The TPSC has already put a deposit on the boat and bus for this year. They have not started selling post-prom tickets yet.

“We have enough funding to only cover immediate needs like the boats and buses,” Mr. Zaretsky said.

According to Ms. McClellan, there are meetings every month to discuss new ideas for things to do and ways to raise money.

“We want to be able to provide a safe and fun and exciting event after prom,” Ms. McClellan said.

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Tags: bus, Continental, cookies, cruise, Ed Zaretsky, Emily Rodriguez, Kanan, Lake Michigan, Lazaro Lopez, math, Mindy McClellan, Navy Pier, post-prom, prom, Teacher Parent Student Council, TPSC, transportation, Val Meier, Wapaghetti's, Wheeling High School, whs