Why CSB?
by Amiee Valenzuela-Altomare
Since the CSB's formation 6 years ago, the organization has nearly doubled in size to its current 144 PTO and Booster groups. With the annual change of PTO Boards and the seasonal nature of Booster Boards, several questions are commonly asked at each quarterly CSB meeting:
What is CSB? What are the benefits to being a member of the CSB? Is membership mandatory? How is District involved?
Thanks to feedback from a member group representative, we thought a quick article on these questions would allow everyone to be on the same page of understanding. Please make sure all members of your board have a good understanding of this information and feel free to share with your other PTO and booster parents also.
So why are you a member of CSB?
1. Membership in the CSB is required by the CUSD (Chandler Unified School District), and your organization is in partnership with CUSD to operate on trust-insured school grounds and in building structures. As a member of CSB, you do not pay to rent these spaces like a church or outside group would have to. You also do not have to secure your own liability insurance because PTO and booster activities are covered under CUSD insurance. Savings!
2. Your taxes are filed with a helpful system and collectively through CSB. This eases the burden of your board to have to pay outside accountants that could cost from $500 - $2,500 or more per year. More savings!
3. Being a 5 million dollar revenue-generating organization brings benefits of attracting a variety of vendors and potential discounts to help with your fundraising goals.
4. Four quarterly meetings, a monthly newsletter, trainings and other helpful presentations will be offered throughout the year as added support for your board members. Not to mention four paid staff to answer your phone calls and emails. The District covers the vast majority of two of these staff members, again saving the CSB and your organization money!
5. Every year, there are filed claims of fraud or embezzlement cases across the country, and CUSD has had to work with Chandler PD on these investigations when they arise here locally. As a volunteer, you may not be paid for working as hard as you do, but protecting yourself by having solid practices in place with all your board members protects everyone. Raising money and handling your communities money has to be taken very seriously. Lawyer fees are covered in these cases by CUSD itself.
In a nutshell, CSB is a facilitative organization that helps enable our students & schools of CUSD to get what they need each school year through the hard work of dedicated folks like yourselves! Allow us to support your work and appreciate you!