OSD, the article failed to describe why the Education Foundation provided a grant for the scoreboard. The Fort Thomas Education Foundation (FTEF) played a critical role in the renovation of Highlands High School. As part of that effort, they helped fund the facilities for the Broadcast Journalism program, including a TV studio, production room, and cameras. This scoreboard was not only purchased for athletics but as a major enhancement to that Broadcast program. The FTEF provided a grant to the program which help offset the costs of the scoreboard. They did not pay for the whole thing. Also, in return for their support, they receive the exclusive advertising rights to the signage and video ads on the scoreboard. The monies that they raise come back and help the students in all 5 of our schools from elementary to high.

 

For today's game, the teacher and the students will be operating the scoreboard and cameras. Eventually, they can learn to run a stats ticker along the bottom of the scoreboard ESPN-style or they can create commercials for the Game Day sponsors. The announcer is now one of our high school students. This was more than a purchase for football, but it was to enhance the learning experience of our students as well. This is real-world experience that these kids will be getting and can apply in college or in a paying job after graduation. I donate to the Foundation and am very proud of the grants they have made to our school system!

 

When I posted that I already new the justification for providing funds for the scoreboard. I said that "in my opinion" you don't mix the money. It may not be the case, but in most normal schools, you really mess with your fundraising abilities when it appears you have used the money for something outside of the Charter you used to raised the funds. I understand what you are saying and it definitely sounds like a great opportunity for some students. Unfortunately, reality doesn't matter. Perception is everything.

 

You know the justification and if you are comfortable with then that is all that matters. You all are in a unique position. Your donors may not care one way or another. They just want to give to Highlands. Certainly a great place to be. I believe that we have a similar thing at Beechwood.

 

I stand by what I said. You don't mix the money. It's why the government has you state your Charter/Purpose when you apply for 501c. You have to be careful not to drift from that stated purpose.

That's the impression I got from the quotes in the article. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the school itself readily gave up the information in question without an FOIA request. Those commenting on behalf of the individual booster orgs seemed happy to cooperate from the tone of the quotes, but the decision to release that information comes from the school district. It's a lot easier to get a quote if you already have the information in hand.

 

You are quite the conspiracy guy. The whole world is not a bunch of corporate republican fat cats hiding things. My guess is that the Boosters and Educational Foundation financial reports are available to members. If it required a FOIA act, I doubt anyone would have been provided for an interview. They would have simply provided the paperwork and documentation and let the guy try to decipher it for himself.

 

Also, since the Boosters and Education Foundation are separate organizations/charities, they are not subject to FOIA. While there are exceptions, it only applies to Publicly funded organizations. Athletic Boosters and foundations I have been involved with are not legally tied to the school and are independent 501c's.

Writer said CCH was not open to sharing info.

OSD, the article failed to describe why the Education Foundation provided a grant for the scoreboard. The Fort Thomas Education Foundation (FTEF) played a critical role in the renovation of Highlands High School. As part of that effort, they helped fund the facilities for the Broadcast Journalism program, including a TV studio, production room, and cameras. This scoreboard was not only purchased for athletics but as a major enhancement to that Broadcast program. The FTEF provided a grant to the program which help offset the costs of the scoreboard. They did not pay for the whole thing. Also, in return for their support, they receive the exclusive advertising rights to the signage and video ads on the scoreboard. The monies that they raise come back and help the students in all 5 of our schools from elementary to high.

 

For today's game, the teacher and the students will be operating the scoreboard and cameras. Eventually, they can learn to run a stats ticker along the bottom of the scoreboard ESPN-style or they can create commercials for the Game Day sponsors. The announcer is now one of our high school students. This was more than a purchase for football, but it was to enhance the learning experience of our students as well. This is real-world experience that these kids will be getting and can apply in college or in a paying job after graduation. I donate to the Foundation and am very proud of the grants they have made to our school system!

It does appear Independent School systems have a huge advantage over larger county systems. Well done HHS. Mayfield, Beechwood & Bowling Green also come to mind.

I read no agenda in the article and am a bit puzzled by the defensiveness of Bluebird Nation on this. It's a fair topic to touch on, given how expensive HS sports it to fund, and how alternate methods of fundraising are necessary since the schools have cut athletic funding so deeply in recent decades.

The defensiveness, I guess, comes maybe not so much from the paper itself, but from places like here on BGP. When you have success, like Highlands has (which I enjoy only vicariously), there are always people ready and waiting to run you down, say you cheated, or claim you have an unfair advantage. So when it's plastered all over the front page of the newspaper (not just the sports section) you get that sort of "fingers on the blackboard" feeling. You just prepare yourself for someone to scream that unfair advantages have everything to do with your favorite team's success and not any of the hard work or dedication of the players and community. Speaking for myself, that's why I felt like this article was playing into all those old arguments.

I read the article and all I saw was a community and school that put's their money where their mouth is. Many schools and teams would love to have the financial base to draw from that Highlands has from both the Community and individual standpoint. Success breeds success and the more success Highlands has the more people want to be a part of it and feel as if it is some way their success too. Highlands spends around $200,000 ($100K spent by the school and about $100K by various booster organizations) a year on their football team not counting around $65,000 in coaching salaries...MONEY DOES NOT BUY WINS, Hard Work and Preparation does that...but it does help have the tools needed to let the kids and coaches do their best and maximize their hard work.

 

Birds fans should stick out their chest with the publishing of this article and be proud, because there are maybe a handful of schools in the entire state that even approach that kind of support...I'm betting none surpass it.

 

KUDOS to the HHS Success!!!

I believe beginning this year that the state has really restricted how money can be used in athletics, via the changes to the "Redbook".

I wonder if this will impact this fundraising/spending.

I thought the article was perfectly clear. It showed that there are communities that are willing to go the extra mile to give their team what they need. Some communities it is for basketball, some places it is for baseball, and some communities it is for the cheerleading squad to win a national title. Just happens it is football season and the article was focusing on support for football. It was clear in the article that money does go along way in providing safe equipment and extras for teams. It also states that YES, money does help and can make a difference. Nothing wrong with that. It is great that schools have groups that are willing to support them in any capacity and in anyway they can generate money.

I believe beginning this year that the state has really restricted how money can be used in athletics, via the changes to the "Redbook".

I wonder if this will impact this fundraising/spending.

Not really. The Redbook changes only stop the coaches from handling booster money or placing orders. The boosters, themselves, can still do everything that was normally done, the coaches or school employees just can't do it. I don't' see it stoping anything from being done, only changing how somethings are done.

I thought the article was perfectly clear. It showed that there are communities that are willing to go the extra mile to give their team what they need. Some communities it is for basketball' date=' some places it is for baseball, and some communities it is for the cheerleading squad to win a national title. Just happens it is football season and the article was focusing on support for football. It was clear in the article that money does go along way in providing safe equipment and extras for teams. It also states that YES, money does help and can make a difference. Nothing wrong with that. It is great that schools have groups that are willing to support them in any capacity and in anyway they can generate money.[/quote']it may be very clear from our perspective, but without any real phases on factors other than money, it starts to sound like money alone buys victories. It doesn't. That's all I was trying to say.

I thought the article was perfectly clear. It showed that there are communities that are willing to go the extra mile to give their team what they need. Some communities it is for basketball, some places it is for baseball, and some communities it is for the cheerleading squad to win a national title. Just happens it is football season and the article was focusing on support for football. It was clear in the article that money does go along way in providing safe equipment and extras for teams. It also states that YES, money does help and can make a difference. Nothing wrong with that. It is great that schools have groups that are willing to support them in any capacity and in anyway they can generate money.

 

Agree completely. I took it as a positive reflection upon the community.

Highlands is in an unique situation in the scoreboard (JumBIRDtron) case.

 

It just so happens that the new Big Screen tv for the Capstone Communication program keeps the score and time of a game.

They displayed and utilized this very educational tool last nite, awesome interaction of the student/athletes imo.

The skits of the football players during the game was priceless, the commercials, etc are all created by the Communications program which are HHS students having lots of fun and gaining valuable hands on experience at the expense of our wonderful and generous community.

 

Expect to see more and more interaction on the JumBIRDtron. The opportunities and expansions are endless and I can assure you that the Communications program will take full advantage of this great educational tool.

 

Heck, I even see this thing burning at all hours of the school day as this is what it is for, a great big outdoor computer big screen.

Nothing more and nothing less.

 

BooHoo for anyone who thinks Highlands has an unfair advantage....Just sayin

it may be very clear from our perspective, but without any real phases on factors other than money, it starts to sound like money alone buys victories. It doesn't. That's all I was trying to say.

I think you were trying to read more into the story. Everyone knows that winning only comes from the play on the field. The article stated that it is harder to raise money when a team is losing. It would be the same at Highlands. I am positive that the amounts raised would be less.

You are quite the conspiracy guy. The whole world is not a bunch of corporate republican fat cats hiding things. My guess is that the Boosters and Educational Foundation financial reports are available to members. If it required a FOIA act, I doubt anyone would have been provided for an interview. They would have simply provided the paperwork and documentation and let the guy try to decipher it for himself.

 

Also, since the Boosters and Education Foundation are separate organizations/charities, they are not subject to FOIA. While there are exceptions, it only applies to Publicly funded organizations. Athletic Boosters and foundations I have been involved with are not legally tied to the school and are independent 501c's.

 

"Conspiracy guy?" That's a good one. My comments come from the fact that it is my job to get information from schools. I have a lot of experience in this arena, so you're just gonna have to trust me that I know what I'm talking about. I've done dozens of FOIA requests over the years, often for the most mundane of things that left me wondering, "Why wouldn't they just give this to me and save us all a lot of trouble?"

 

Unless I misunderstand the rules -- and I don't think I do -- any booster organization that supports a public school, the money is ultimately overseen by the school district in question. And because those organizations are in support of a public school, their records are subject to FOIA, and anyone can access them. Often, but not always, information such as that is not willingly provided to the general public without a FOIA request.

The defensiveness, I guess, comes maybe not so much from the paper itself, but from places like here on BGP. When you have success, like Highlands has (which I enjoy only vicariously), there are always people ready and waiting to run you down, say you cheated, or claim you have an unfair advantage. So when it's plastered all over the front page of the newspaper (not just the sports section) you get that sort of "fingers on the blackboard" feeling. You just prepare yourself for someone to scream that unfair advantages have everything to do with your favorite team's success and not any of the hard work or dedication of the players and community. Speaking for myself, that's why I felt like this article was playing into all those old arguments.

 

I understand where you are coming from. We also have a great booster club who works their butt off with the bingo. It works so well that Graves County started doing it. Mayfield gets accused of the big "R" word all the time and it really gets old also.