Question:  In our school the ASB clerk is hired by the district, paid benefits by the district and the clerk pays for union dues out of her salary. If the ASB clerk's salary comes out of ASB accounts is she still an employee of the district or of the students that control the ASB accounts? Is it ethical to take a salary from money that has been generated by students selling candy, washing cars and doing recitals? If the student council votes no on the paying of this salary what recourse does the district and employee have?

Response: Generally, the ASB accounting clerk's salaries and benefits are the responsibility of the district, not the student body - since the district has oversight and administrative responsibility which should include the general accounting functions for ASB's. If the ASB clerk does fund-raising type work as well (such as working a student store, or selling tickets at games, or selling yearbooks) then that portion of their work could be charged to the ASB. For example, if the clerk works overtime to sell tickets at an ASB function, the overtime would be a valid expense of the ASB, or if the clerk regularly works 2 hours/day in the student store, a pro-ration of the salary could be made, with those 2 hours charged to the ASB.

ASB is similar to categorical funding and expenditures in some ways - the district needs to look at what is supplemental, versus what is the basic support that the district will provide. Basic support includes the general accounting services, the certificated club advisors, basic coaching and other student supervision, and the annual audit of ASB funds.

And, if it is decided that a portion of the ASB clerk is in fact to be charged to ASB funds, the student council would have to vote yes and that vote would have to be documented in the minutes of the meeting for backup. Expenses cannot be "forced" upon the ASB without them voting "yes".

6/01/04