Stop Budget Cutting our Children

PETITION TO POCONO MT SCHOOL BOARD
We, the undersigned petitioners and tax payers do not support the proposed changes to the Pocono Mt School District facility use policy. While some of these changes are necessary the school district should consider the following:

1. Waiver of fees for IRS recognized 501 (c) 3 organizations that are recognized community service institutions with longevity in the community. Other school districts have similar policies for recognized organizations within the community.
2. Recognize that simply because an organization serves Pocono Mt Students exclusively it may not serve the MOST Pocono Mt Students and equal consideration should be given to organization that serve students from other school districts but serve a greater number of Pocono Mt Students.
3. Guarantee review of approval within a 30 day window of submission, especially when fees are being requested. It is not possible for an organization to successfully run a program when approvals are not given in a timely manner from submission.
4. Allow a buyout of concession or require a donation from organizations offering a concession stand as the expense of the school district running these concessions can often be more than what they may gain.

The school board must recognize that the fees that it currently proposes will make some long standing programs that are a benefit to the community unaffordable for its participants and the lack of these programs can cause more social issues. It should also be recognized that the tax payers of the school district should however not be expected to support private enterprise or organizations that do not have a long standing presence in the community