Negaunee Superintendent Dan Skewis said the policy addresses teachers and administrators using crowdfunding sources such as GoFundMe to raise funds for school-related activities. The new policy requires crowdfunding to be approved by the district.

“We just wanted to make it clear that those things have to go through the district, which we were already doing,” Skewis said.

At least two programs in the district have already used GoFundMe to help pay for activities, facilities and equipment.

The NPS varsity baseball program is raising funds for items like bats, balls, catchers gear, helmets, jerseys, batting cage replacement nets, field improvements and travel. The NPS band director Christopher Momcilovich is using GoFundMe to raise $4,000 for a new tuba for the growing program.

SKEWIS

“I will have more tuba players in the program than tubas owned by the end of this year,” Momcilovich said in his GoFundMe statement. “We are a very rural district and with the decline in funding to the school, we do not have the money to purchase the instruments needed for our students. I want to see every single student who wants to participate have the chance to play an instrument.”

Skewis said the board also approved rescheduling of its January meeting from Jan. 16 to Jan. 18.

The move will give administration extra time to prepare proposed budget amendments that will be presented at the meeting, Skewis said.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242.