The Uni High Parent Fund, along with the $850 registration fees, helps pay for activity and event fees, equipment and uniforms, technology support, departmental budgets, and fine arts program materials. The Parent Fund is supported through donations from parents. However, in recent years, donations to the Parent Fund have decreased, falling from around $600,000 annually to about $300,000.
To address this decline, a new task force has been created. This committee consists of administration, faculty, advancement, parents, and alumni. Alongside the announcement of the committee, Dr. Robert Fitzgerald shared a tiered giving chart that recommends donation amounts based on family income.
To learn more about the parent perspective on the Parent Fund, The Gargoyle sent out a survey to all parents. Of the 50 responses, 84% said they donate to the fund, while 16% said they do not.
Many parents who donate said they feel there is an expectation to give, while others said they give because they want to support the teachers and students.
The parents who said they do not donate explained that it was due to financial reasons or due to dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the school.
Uni’s finances are made up of three big sections: the Annual Fund, the Parent Fund and registration fees, and appropriations from both the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Provost’s Office at the University of Illinois.
When asked if relying heavily on parent donations is sustainable, Dr. Fitzgerald said, “This is not an ideal model, but this is Uni’s model.” He explained that Uni has operated under this system for about 40 years. Since the school does not receive revenue from property taxes, the difference must be filled in other ways, largely through the Parent Fund.
Dr. Fitzgerald emphasized that “our goal as an administrative team is to cut nothing.” He noted that Uni “has been through this before” and that every 7-8 years there is a similar dip in the Parent Fund.
