Question: The district has discontinued the ASB Stipend. Is there any way for the ASB to pay the remainder of that stipend?

Response: The distinction between allowable and prohibited expenses for student body organizations can be confusing, and it is critical that the interests of the students are protected in all cases. In high schools and middle schools, the students are involved in making the decision about how the funds will be spent. In elementary schools, the principal or designee is responsible for protecting the interests of students and ensuring that the funds are spent for their benefit.

Prohibited purchases are explained as the following:

**Salaries or supplies that are the responsibility of the district. For example, the district usually pays for the salaries of teachers and paper for the copy machine.

**Repair and maintenance of district owned equipment

**Articles for the personal use of district employees, such as a television for the principal. This rule would not preclude the ASB from giving staff members items of minimal or token value.

**Expenses for faculty meetings, such as refreshments for staff meetings.

**Expenses for parent-teacher organizations such as PTAs.

The question you are raising is not as clear cut, as the stipend has been paid by the district in the past. The general rule of " prohibited expenditures include salaries or supplies that are the responsibility of the district" fits in this case. But the argument can also be made by the district that the position would not need to be in existence or funded if the student body organization did not exist. Regardless, the ASB cannot be forced to pick up the stipend. If the students vote that the expenditure can be charged to them, then it is fine. If they were not to agree to pay for it, the district is faced with the decision of whether or not they are comfortable with not paying an ASB stipend, which may affect the quality of work that will be done in advising the group. This then would potentially affect the annual independent audit.

As you can see, there is no clear cut answer to this question. Common sense and the vote of the students are the things that will have to be taken into consideration.

2/03/04