By Yara Rivera
Every senior class is faced with the task of raising money to pay for a prom and other senior class activities. For many years students have sold cookies and that has always seemed to supply enough funding. However, cookies and other “unhealthy” foods are not permitted anymore. Another idea was needed. What could the senior class sell, to raise money instead?
Mr. Flores, history teacher and senior class adviser, introduced the idea of selling first aid kits, ranging from twelve dollars for a simple kit up to $112 for an officially licensed and approved kit. When compared to a cookie that was only a dollar, and could be sold to the same customer multiple times in a week, these kits were substantially more expensive to purchase.
Example of the ill-fated first aid kit fundraiser. Photo by Oscar Gutierrez.
The results of this fundraiser demonstrated that more expensive does not equal more revenue. For every twenty seniors, there would only be three students who sold any kits, and of those who did sell the average sold was only two.
Students seemed unanimous in their dislike of this fundraiser. One anonymous senior stated, “I’m outraged by the audacity of the powers that be, they took away the only way to raise money, by selling food.”
A common response about the amount of kits sold by various seniors was, “Ha ha, none.” Even a teacher who wished to remain anonymous said, “Cookies brought many funds to activities at this school. I hope some other form of revenue can be found.”
While the sale of cookies was discontinued, at least in part, because they attracted unwanted pests, and also because of the litter problem it presented, some new form of revenue must be found. The first aid kit sale was not successful, but the senior class (and other classes) still needs to find revenue to fund activities.
Some compromise will need to be reached and students in conjunction with class advisors, and administration will work together to find a way to have the kind of activities that makes attending PHS so rewarding.
