Booster Club Histrionics Can ISD Dissolve Club? (1 Viewer)

[Dezbelief]

It's a swim team booster club in Texas. The treasurer embezzled 25% of the funds and presented false financial statements to the ISD. The ISD has disbanded the booster club and ordered the remaining funds be turned into the ISD.

Is this legal? All this hit after I went to work today so I'm not sure what the bylaws say.

 

[El Floppo]

International Space Depot?

 

[General Malaise]

Infectious Sex Demons

 

[Dezbelief]

Independent School District
HISD is Houston Independent School District. FWISD is Fort Worth Independent School District.

 

[the moops]

25% of how much?

 

[General Malaise]

How much money are we talking about here?

 

[Sammy3469]

I would have to imagine the booster club is some non-profit, so you really need the bylaws and whom the bylaws give the power to do this type of thing. Generally there would need to be some type of vote of the directors though (assuming there are directors).

 

[Dezbelief]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

 

[Psychopav]

There are very strict rules about booster clubs and booster club money in Texas iirc. I would definitely do the research but I bet the ISD is on firm ground here.

 

[General Malaise]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sucks. Imagine throwing your reputation away for $3,600.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

25% of how much?

does it matter?

 

[Dezbelief]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sucks. Imagine throwing your reputation away for $3,600.

Self employed bookkeeper, wondering if the clients were subjected to the same treatment. I would think this is a career ender either way.

 

[General Malaise]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sucks. Imagine throwing your reputation away for $3,600.

Self employed bookkeeper, wondering if the clients were subjected to the same treatment. I would think this is a career ender either way.

Did the police get involved?

 

[General Malaise]

25% of how much?

does it matter?

Yes.

 

[Dezbelief]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sucks. Imagine throwing your reputation away for $3,600.

Self employed bookkeeper, wondering if the clients were subjected to the same treatment. I would think this is a career ender either way.

Did the police get involved?

Not yet, the school district decided to punish the booster club but not call the cops. The booster officers want all the parents to see the financials before reporting, unofficial meeting on 5/6. I was ready to call the cops and the media this morning when the news broke. The booster officers are afraid the ISD will eliminate the swim team if we leak to the media.

 

[Dezbelief]

It feels like we are getting ripped off twice.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

The booster officers are afraid the ISD will eliminate the swim team if we leak to the media.

I woder if it matters if I leak it to the media. After all, you didn't do it. If your local TV station has an ombudman, I'd go with that.

 

[the moops]

25% of how much?

does it matter?

Yes.

Also it just makes a more interesting story if it is thousands as opposed to hundreds

 

[General Malaise]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sucks. Imagine throwing your reputation away for $3,600.

Self employed bookkeeper, wondering if the clients were subjected to the same treatment. I would think this is a career ender either way.

Did the police get involved?

Not yet, the school district decided to punish the booster club but not call the cops. The booster officers want all the parents to see the financials before reporting, unofficial meeting on 5/6. I was ready to call the cops and the media this morning when the news broke. The booster officers are afraid the ISD will eliminate the swim team if we leak to the media.

Are these audited financials? If the treasurer was cooking the books and stealing money that's a crime. An audit will reveal that.

Not sure why the school district has any jurisdiction over a club swim team.

 

[Dezbelief]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sucks. Imagine throwing your reputation away for $3,600.

Self employed bookkeeper, wondering if the clients were subjected to the same treatment. I would think this is a career ender either way.

Did the police get involved?

Not yet, the school district decided to punish the booster club but not call the cops. The booster officers want all the parents to see the financials before reporting, unofficial meeting on 5/6. I was ready to call the cops and the media this morning when the news broke. The booster officers are afraid the ISD will eliminate the swim team if we leak to the media.

Are these audited financials? If the treasurer was cooking the books and stealing money that's a crime. An audit will reveal that.

Not sure why the school district has any jurisdiction over a club swim team.

It's a school swim team with a parent booster club.

 

[General Malaise]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sucks. Imagine throwing your reputation away for $3,600.

Self employed bookkeeper, wondering if the clients were subjected to the same treatment. I would think this is a career ender either way.

Did the police get involved?

Not yet, the school district decided to punish the booster club but not call the cops. The booster officers want all the parents to see the financials before reporting, unofficial meeting on 5/6. I was ready to call the cops and the media this morning when the news broke. The booster officers are afraid the ISD will eliminate the swim team if we leak to the media.

Are these audited financials? If the treasurer was cooking the books and stealing money that's a crime. An audit will reveal that.

Not sure why the school district has any jurisdiction over a club swim team.

It's a school swim team with a parent booster club.

High school?

 

[Dezbelief]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sucks. Imagine throwing your reputation away for $3,600.

Self employed bookkeeper, wondering if the clients were subjected to the same treatment. I would think this is a career ender either way.

Did the police get involved?

Not yet, the school district decided to punish the booster club but not call the cops. The booster officers want all the parents to see the financials before reporting, unofficial meeting on 5/6. I was ready to call the cops and the media this morning when the news broke. The booster officers are afraid the ISD will eliminate the swim team if we leak to the media.

Are these audited financials? If the treasurer was cooking the books and stealing money that's a crime. An audit will reveal that.

Not sure why the school district has any jurisdiction over a club swim team.

It's a school swim team with a parent booster club.

High school?

Yes, high school swim team.

 

[Dezbelief]

******* Independent School District
Activity Fund Manual
Revised June 1, 2023


203 DEFINITION OF OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS
Many organizations offer valutable assistance to the District in fund-raising, voluntary help, and
substantial fan support for school activities. Although the intent of these organizations is to assist
and support school activities, these organizations are not to be managed by the District.
Outside organizations should be valid stand-alone organizations with their own identities. There
should be no confusion of their identity with that of the school’s. They should never use the
school’s address, tax ID, or names of school employees in conducting their business.
1. Booster clubs may be defined as school District recognized club or similar outside organization
formed of parents and other interested adults to work for the best interest and in a manner
conducive to the furtherance of educational programs of the District. These funds are not to be
commingled with campus or student/club activity funds nor managed by school District
employees or students.
2. Parental organizations are school District recognized organizations formed at a specific WFISD
school whose membership consists of parents, students, teachers, administrators, and other
interested adults (Includes PTA, PTO, and similar support groups).
These funds, like those of booster clubs and other outside organizations, are not to be
commingled with campus or student/club activity funds.
It is the responsibility of the outside organization (booster club or parent group) and not the
responsibility of the District nor its employees to receive, receipt, deposit, or account for activity
of any outside organization


An example of such a transfer is as follows:
• Division of funds from dormant accounts. Funds raised by clubs to support their activities and
unexpended at the end of the school year shall remain in the club’s account and be carried
over to the next school year. If the club becomes inactive and remains so for two (2) school
years, the Principal may transfer any unexpended funds at the end of the second year.

 

[Runkle]

I would have to imagine the booster club is some non-profit, so you really need the bylaws and whom the bylaws give the power to do this type of thing. Generally there would need to be some type of vote of the directors though (assuming there are directors).

Nah everything is legal in Texas high school sports

 

[dino259]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sucks. Imagine throwing your reputation away for $3,600.

Self employed bookkeeper, wondering if the clients were subjected to the same treatment. I would think this is a career ender either way.

Did the police get involved?

Not yet, the school district decided to punish the booster club but not call the cops. The booster officers want all the parents to see the financials before reporting, unofficial meeting on 5/6. I was ready to call the cops and the media this morning when the news broke. The booster officers are afraid the ISD will eliminate the swim team if we leak to the media.

Are these audited financials? If the treasurer was cooking the books and stealing money that's a crime. An audit will reveal that.

Not sure why the school district has any jurisdiction over a club swim team.

It's a school swim team with a parent booster club.

High school?

Yes, high school swim team.

ah High School sports. Supposed to be about kids having fun playing a game. only reason to have all the travel teams and booster clubs is money. Can't wait to see how wisconsin passing NIL for high school turns out. Supposed to be a better set of rules than college but that doesn't say much.

 

[Gally]

I don't see how the school district can take the money away from the swim team. They could take the funds and put it in the swim team school account (at our HS each sport has a school funded account as well as a general athletic account).

But the district has no say over any of the booster clubs. This seems like something that should be handled by the booster club board members to prosecute the guilty party and then elect new treasurer. But the accounts should stay separate. I mean it seems like the bylaws posted above specifically state the school district has no say over the funds of the booster club.

 

[beer 30]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sucks. Imagine throwing your reputation away for $3,600.

It was college, I was broke & needed the cash. Sue me!

 

[bagger]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sounds fair.

 

[Gally]

How much money are we talking about here?

Treasurer got around $3,600 we know about so far, there's still 10k left. The school wants what's left, no booster club next year and we start from scratch 2026/27 school year.

Sounds fair.

How is it fair that the school takes money that was specifically raised for that specific team. People donated to support that team. If the district wants to take over the booster club or disband it because of the stealing that is fine but the money should be for that team and not go to the district general fund

 

[Psychopav]

Looks like in Texas booster clubs must adhere to the "University Interscholastic League" booster club guidelines. These include:

Role of the Superintendent

Member schools make UIL rules and determine policies regarding penalties to schools, school district personnel and student participants. The superintendent is solely responsible for the entire UIL program. All school activities, organizations (including the booster club), events and personnel are under the jurisdiction of the superintendent. Booster clubs must recognize this authority and work within a framework prescribed by the school administration.

and

Club Finances

...
Booster clubs may make recommendations, but cash or other valuable consideration must be given to the school to use at its discretion. Generally speaking, earnings by a properly organized booster club may not benefit any private shareholder or individual.
...
Funds are to be used to support school activities. To provide such funding for non-school activities could violate UIL rules and the public trust through which funds are earned.

There are other rules, such as maintaining their own bank accounts and filing on their own with the IRS (as a tax exempt entity, with its own EIN separate from the district EIN), requirement that two officers sign off on all disbursements, and that officers may not be school employees.