Missouri School Board Association (MSBA) has recommended policy changes to districts statewide this month, including crowdfunding and memorial donations.

During the June 22 Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy presented the board with changes to Policy KH that now includes crowdfunding and memorial donations and gifts to the district. The memorial donations and gifts policy was moved from Policy FFA to be included in Policy KH by MSBA.

Hardy introduced the topic of crowdfunding first.

“The building administration requests funds on a rotation schedule,” Hardy explained, adding that teachers’ requests for items from parents adds an extra burden to the community.

Some items that teachers request can be approved by building administrators and paid for through administered funds. At times the requested gifts come with an unadvertised recurring cost.

According to Policy KH defines crowdfunding as the activity or process of raising money through solicitations, typically via an online community or platform. Crowdfunding does not include district requests for direct gifts made using the district’s social media accounts or website. District-approved Crowdfunding and activities must be approved by the superintendent or designee and initiated by the district, a district employee, or any agent or volunteer acting on behalf of the district, even if the district is not specifically named.

Gifts, for the KH policy, include any gift, donation or bequest made to the district or a district foundation.

“Items requested on the GCR2 Community Cares Facebook page is not included in the policy,” Hardy said. “The E-Missourian had an article that Union (R-11 School District) delayed the adoption of this policy. They will eventually have to adopt this.”

She added the district will need to educate teachers about the new crowdfunding policy and big cost-share program changes.

Gifts to the District Foundation policy changes stipulate scholarship donation qualifications must be approved by the board in advance.

Funds must be donated according to district needs.

The district reserves the right to approve plants or trees donated in honor of a person or event. Any real property donated to the district will be kept for 10 years. After which time, the district will offer the property back to the donor or sell it as surplus property.

Summer maintenance projects in the school district include tuck-pointing at Owensville Elementary School. Workers with the Springfield, Mo., based MTS Contracting were power-washing brick around the upper portion of the cafeteria and front entrance on Monday in preparation for the repairs to expansion joints.