No more door-to-door fundraising; Winnipeg School Division makes policy changes

Michelle Gerwing has details on changes to the Winnipeg School Division’s fundraising policy.

Manitoba’s largest school division has tweaked its fundraising policy, limiting how money can be spent and how it’s collected.

The policy change from the Winnipeg School Division was approved in December.

Superintendent Matt Henderson said it was adjusted after consultation with parent advisory councils and staff.

The crux of the change ensures students and parent groups are not fundraising for what should already be covered under the purview of public education, Henderson said. This includes field trips, textbooks, and technology.

“Those are things that the board should be budgeting for and has and is putting into the budget as we go through that process for next year, as well.”

Another change in the policy – students are prohibited from collecting door-to-door donations. The old rules only barred early learners from the fundraising practice.

Henderson said the change was made for safety reasons and is in line with other school divisions throughout the country.

Also out – fundraisers are no longer allowed to be competitions as that sends the wrong message, Henderson said.

Meanwhile, fundraisers can still be held to cover costs for camps, uniforms or other special projects.

Henderson believes the changes could address some inequities between schools.

“We know, and I know for a fact that there are some students, if there’s a field trip and there’s a cost associated with it, they just won’t come that day because of the shame, and we want to avoid that at all costs,” Henderson said.

Ty Mitchell is co-chair of École River Heights School’s parent advisory council.

Last fall, they hosted a walk-a-thon fundraiser that saw students going door-to-door to collect donations. The event raised $46,000. It was given to the school to enrich students’ lives through programs like its book and sewing clubs.

The council also hosts fun lunches to help pay for grade 8 graduation.

Henderson said the updated policy makes sense.

“Because there are different schools in different neighbourhoods within Winnipeg School Division that maybe don’t have the exact same background or opportunity that other students may have,” he said.

“So as far as fundraising efforts go, he’s trying to even the playing field and that’s totally understandable and acceptable.”

- With files from CTV’s Michelle Gerwing