The High Cost of Public Education-$PRICELESS

With the failure of Measure E and proposed budget cuts looming in the Pleasanton Unified School District's future, Community OutReach for Education (CORE) representatives have been pushing fund-raising efforts to help ensure support staff remain intact at local schools.
They've asked a donation of $150 per child enrolled in the district.  Having three children who will be enrolled during the 2011-12 school year, this places an unexpected deficit in our family budget.  In order to make up for the difference, I  may have to bid my favorite Barista at Starbucks a sad farewell and quit my coffee addiction.
So in preparation for school enrollment for next year my current bill looks as follows:

• CORE donation - $150
• Teacher's Classroom Donation - $40
• Room Parent Donation -$20
• Science Lab Donation - $20
• Classroom Supply Kit - $50

There are also the unnecessary items that must be purchased at the beginning of the school year by parents so their children don't feel like losers for being the only one without a school t-shirt or yearbook.

• Yearbook - $25
• Birthday Board - $10
• School Spirit Wear - $20    

This pricetag only reflects donations asked for at the beginning of the school year.  As the year goes on, donation requests come up for field trips and classroom party supplies.  In addition, teachers run out of classroom supplies and timidly request donations from parents knowing their wallets have been tapped out.
I recall one year being appalled that neither of my elementary school boys could sharpen their pencils in school because their classes lacked functioning pencil sharpeners.  Thirty dollars from the Smith family household fund was a small price to pay to provide electric pencil sharpeners for the classrooms so my boys didn't have to whittle their pencils with dull safety scissors.  However, it became another addition to the rising cost of sending our children to public school.

• Electric pencil sharpeners - $30
• Approximate yearly field trip donation - $20-$100
• Holiday party  supplies - $10

There are also fund-raising events in which proceeds go directly to PFC and PTA funds.  This is strictly voluntary but at student assemblies, the children are enticed to sell furiously in order to earn cheap plastic toys that rarely last a week.  Of course there's always the 1-in-700 chance to win the big prize, an iPod,  luring elementary school students to sell as much as they can. I can only smile sweetly as my son says, "Hey mom, I need to sell 75 more items (all of which cost $15 or more) to get a glow-in-the-dark alarm clock."

• Overpriced gift wrap - $30
• Cookie dough which gets donated to hubby's work -  $20

There was also the school auction this year which cost attendees $70 per person.  In addition, guests were given the opportunity to bid on beautifully wrapped themed baskets.  My husband and I did  not attend the event this year because we were already feeling financially strapped after paying $350 for our 5th grade son's Outdoor Ed trip and our 4th grade son's $120 Sacramento trip with dad as a chaperon.

• Outdoor Ed - $350
• Sacramento Trip - $120

Of course, we can't address the requests for money without including non-profit organizations that take advantage of tender-hearted children by recruiting them to raise funds for Jump Rope For Heart, Pennies for Patients, Unicef, and the newest addition to our school, I Helped Japan.
While I support raising empathetic children, I often find myself rolling my eyes and thinking to myself that if my family continues to be inundated with donation requests we may become a charity case ourselves. I envision having to create a fund called Pennies for the PG&E bill or Jump Rope for Homeowners Insurance.

• Approximate donation to miscellaneous charities - $30

Consider that I have three children enrolling into school this year now tripling my donation efforts. In addition, my oldest will be moving onto middle school. My guess is that the expenses only become greater the higher the grade level.
With all things considered, public education comes with a heavy price tag and the opportunity to pitch in is endless. However, the price we've paid has returned to us ten-fold.
My children have benefited from nearly every resource our school has to offer.  Speech therapists, reading specialists, Barton tutors, resource teachers, occupational therapists, school psychologists, and school counselors have all contributed in one way or another to success of my childrens' school careers.  Without these incredible people, my boys would've been left behind either academically or socially. Fortunately for them, they're being raised in an incredible school district that is fighting tooth and nail to keep what makes them so spectacular intact.
My handbag is definitely feeling lighter these days with all my spare change going towards local fund raising efforts.  But the end result is worth the price tag.

• Happy, healthy, and smart children - $PRICELESS

The Best and Worst of Mother's Day

I've always considered myself a lucky woman.  I have three amazing sons and a husband who is more thoughtful than most.


My children often will cut a rose from our garden to surprise me.  My husband has bought me flowers once every other week since we married fourteen years ago.  He makes or buys coffee for me daily, cooks dinner for me at least three times a week, and is always the pancake king on Sunday mornings.

On Mother's Day, my posse of men have to step it up a notch to out do their generousity throughout the year.  This year among my pile of homemade gifts from the children, my husband brought me three dozen tulips, coffee, and a greeting card.  In addition, he washed my car, let me nap, made dinner for the family, and best of all, cleaned up the entire kitchen afterwards.  Yes, I'm spoiled and I love every moment of it.

Just when I thought my Mother's Day couldn't be topped, Robin Cazinha shared her Mother's Day experience with me.

"This year Kelly asked me what was the one thing I have always wanted.  I told her I've always wanted someone to write a song about me.  On Mother's Day she took my hands and asks me to sit.  She then proceeded to sing a song she wrote for me.  She gave me the song written out and decorated with hearts, kisses, and 'I love momma' all over it.  That was the best gift I have ever received," she said.

Erika Schmitz was also loved on with words of affection through poetry written by her son David.

There once was a mother
She was the best ever
I love her and never stop
Without her I'd be doing belly flops
I love her for cooking the best ever
I love her for being a puzzler
I love her for cleaning the house
And most of all, I love her for being her
I love you Mom

Dawna Leak, mother of four, also enjoyed her day of recognition.

"The  kids and Paul woke me up with breakfast and gifts.  Kasmine gave me her old pink teddy bear and the other kids gave me cards and candles.  I was also surprised to a brand new bike just for me.  In a family of six, it's nice to have something of my own," she shared.

Not every mother in town enjoyed their special day.

I friend who asked to be anonymous had just recently purchased a new home but the timing of her move wasn't convenient.

"I was moving on Mother's Day.  No gifts, no flowers, and no coffee in bed," she said.

The most common response I got when I asked my community of friends what their worst Mother's Day gift was "nothing at all."  One friend who asked to be anonymous shared her typical Mother's Day.

"My husband told me early on that I wasn't his mother and therefore he shouldn't have to get me a gift.  Not only did he never get a Father's Day gift but I eventually made up for all the giftless Mother's Day by divorcing him."

Sometimes Mother's Day gifts are not about the gifts themselves but the thought behind them.  Jennifer Gagnier, mother of four, learned this lesson the hard way.

"Years ago I got a stupid, ugly candle and a teddy bear figurine that wouldn't fit anyone's decor.  It  made me angry that an candle and knick knack was all I was worth as a mother.  When the candle fell and broke I was relieved," she admitted.

"Six years later, my sons Michael and Chad were talking with me about worst gifts ever.   I brought up the silly flower candle that was nothing more than a dust collector to me. That's when Chad let me know that his dad had let him personally pick that gift.   I had no idea the thought and love from a small child was what went into buying the gift.  I assumed these were last minute gift ideas of my husband Paul.  I apologized to Chad and have since then displayed the bear figurine and smashed wax bouquet of flowers."

Although I love being treated like a princess for the day, I am reminded daily of  three priceless gifts I have that no other mother can have-my sweet boys.