KISD adopts rules for booster clubs

By LESTER MURRAYnews2@kilgorenewsherald.com

Student organizations and booster clubs cover activities from academics to athletics. All must be cautious about violating University Interscholastic League rules, violations which can cost both students and school districts.

Kilgore Independent School District this week adopted guidelines for those organizations.

Revard Pfeffer, director of administrative services for KISD, developed the guidelines and presented them to the school board of trustees for their approval on Tuesday.

Pfeffer said the guidelines are designed to assist booster club officers and members by providing organizational and financial guidance.

“Booster clubs should always keep in mind that the main purpose of any booster club is to support and strengthen the Kilgore Independent School District, its programs and the students of our district as a whole,” said Pfeffer.

Jerry Roberts, superintendent, said these programs are designed to enhance the students’ experience while at KISD, not their future achievements when they leave.

Pfeffer said whether the program is music, fine arts, academics or athletics, booster clubs should exist to enrich students’ involvement in extracurricular activities without endangering their eligibility.

The new guidelines lay out all the requirements by UIL, state and federal agencies and school guidelines each club must follow to have the support of KISD.

Further, Roberts said, individuals involved in fund-raising events which benefit school-affiliated clubs should have a letter of authorization from the district. If the groups don’t have that letter, he said, the money will go someplace other than to the school organization.

After the football team’s state championship, for example, several people or organizations sold football memorabilia to benefit persons or groups not affiliated with thes school.

Even though each booster club operates independent of the school district, Pfeffer said, they must adhere to the guidelines or forfeit the right to use the district’s name.

Pfeffer said these guidelines will be available online. “Also, each club will make a written financial report to me yearly and all records of these clubs are a matter of public record and can be obtained by a written request to the individual club in question.

Pfeffer said the guidelines will help clubs lay out their organizational structure, file the correct government forms for tax purposes and keep proper records to make sure they are violating no UIL rules, KISD policies or tax violations.

The board adopted the guidelines as presented.