I'm not sure this is legal.....what do you think?

[wolfy999]

Wolfette goes to a Private School here in Orange County, CA. This is a non-profit organization. We have already paid registration ($150.00 non-refundable) for 2008/2009 school year and also started the tuition payments (still refundable at this point).

I received this letter today in the mail and just don't feel right about it....it's even a possibility that it's not even legal.

Want to see what all of the you swank experts think about this.

Here is the main portion of the letter that just really irks me....

"The Parent Involvement Program (PIP) was recently approved by the Internal School Board to help promote parent involvement at the school. To encourage and promote involvement the PIP program has been designed and will be implemented in the 2008-2009 school year.

The PIP program requires that each family donate twenty (20) hours of involvement time through out the school year. Your family can be involved in a variety of ways, as outlines on the enclosed opportunity list. The PIP Opportunity Binder with all involvement opportunities available will be kept in the school office. Sign up quickly, and check the book often, because some opportunities have limited availability and new opportunities are always arising. We encourage you to be involved not only in your student's classroom, but in all areas of the school.

Each time you are involved in authorized PIP activity, you will be given a PIP Chip. This is a receipt of your involvement hours, what you were doing, and by whom it was authorized. Parents, you must hold on to your PIP chips. A charge of $200 will appear on your bill. If for some reason you are unable to be involved and complete your PIP involvement hours, the charge will remain on your bill and be due and payable. When all 20 involvement hours have been completed turn your PIP Chips into student accounts, to have the $200 charge credited to your account."

We have about 350 students total in the school, but with the math I've done, that works out to be 7000 hours in free labor for the school, if all parents get involved.....if not, $70,000 in additional funds.

What do you think about this?

[~MS~]

Private schools, their house their rules. I think it stinks that it wasn't in place before you made the decision to send her to that particular school but I'd say that while highly unethical (at least to sneak it in after the fact) it's legal.

[sleepyjeff]

My son's elemantary school ~a public school~ did something similar. Every parent is asked to donate 25 hours to the school or sponser a classroom(for $300). It's all voluntary but they do lean on you pretty heavily at the beginning of the school year. Most parents of kindergarten and 1st graders donate the time or money...but by the time their kids get into the 3rd or 4th grade they get tired of the heavy handedness of it all and elect not to volunteer either money or time(which is probably why the middle school in the same district doesn't even bother to ask).

Couldn't tell you if it's legal or not but I bet if it really came down to it you could get your deposit back if you threatened legal action.

[wolfy999]

She's been going to that school since she was two and a half (pre-school), so it wasn't a recent decision.

I also work there part-time (and of course get paid), am hoping there might be an exception for an employee...but I highly doubt it.

[lashbear]

I would refuse to pay the charge and refer it through to legal if they get heavy.

I would also ask to see the contract with your signature on it agreeing to this.


...having said that, law in USA my be different to that over here.

[wendybeth]

I think you could challenge it, for reasons Lash points out. If it's not in the contract you have with the school, then it's basically sort of extortion. It's also bull****- you already pay to have her in school, so why do you get charged again? If they want parental involvement, this is most decidedly not the way to go about it. (I'm pissed just looking at what they wrote- it's ridiculous.)

[wendybeth]

Great points by Stoat as well- I'm really interested in how this plays out. Keep us apprised, alright?

[LashStoat]

Dear Wolfy999,

I can see why this would make you feel uncomfortable. I can’t judge it from a legal viewpoint, but here are my thoughts (mostly to do with ethics and security) in no particular order:

• The school should have made you aware of any “hidden” or “additional” costs at the time you signed up, so that you could make an informed decision. Whilst all organizations can introduce new costs, it is ethical to do it at the time of contract, not after signup.

• I imagine that the PIP will occur during school hours, meaning working parents would have to take time off, annual leave or whatever to “do their duty”. That sucks.

• How can they direct debit your account without your authorization? That’s got to be illegal. If they take it off a credit card, you could ring the Card issuer and reverse the debit.

• Also does this mean that “unknown” adults are going to be wandering around the school, with no background screening, and engaging with your child – when they aren’t qualified teachers, and for all you know they could be pedophiles? To me, this is the most serious issue, and I think you could use it to scare the school on legal grounds – it would be a breech of school security. I’m thinking Columbine and Jonbenet.

…I’m thinking if points 1 to 3 doesn’t stop them, point 4 should make ‘em sit up. If they still push the point, insist on background screening for each and every participant. That would mean every participant would have to sign a consent form to be screened (ie: Police Check).

The strategy is to shift heavy legal responsibility onto the Principal (which I’m betting they won’t want to do). I’m also betting parents won’t want to consent (for civil/privacy reasons).

Hugs, and good luck,

The Stoat.

[LashStoat]

Dear Wolfy999,

Just another thought:

Does the register that folks are signing disclose details like phone numbers and/or other contact details that can be seen by other folks? If so, this is also a clear breech of privacy/security.

...and here's another biggy: What if one of the parents has an accident like falling down steps etc? Would they be legally covered? And in the same vein, what if a parent accidentally causes harm to a kid? What happens then...as they are a volunteer...who's liable?

...and what if a kid says "Mr Smith touched me on the weeny"? Even if he didn't, Mr. Smith's a gonner.

Cast that out to other parents - I'll bet a fear-storm ensues, and they'll march to City Hall.


Hugs,

The Stoat.

[wolfy999]

Good thoughts Stoat....I had to have a background check done, TB testing, certification in First Aid/CPR. None of these volunteer parents have gone through any of this, the school is just assuming they are OK, since their kids go there, but this is a poor assumption. Will be calling the school on Monday, to voice some of the opinions made here and see what they have to say.

I may be an employee, but I'm also a parent of a child that goes there!