Funding at Tino

FUNDING AT CUPERTINO

CLUBS

Exploring the funding process that allows clubs on campus to grow

Cupertino’s Associated Student Body (ASB) strives to ensure the best experience for every Tino student. Each student is encouraged to join clubs, allowing them to explore niche interests, discover new activities, and create safe spaces for smaller communities on campus, but clubs would not exist without money. Without any monetary backing, it becomes difficult for clubs as most of them require some financial transaction — whether fundraising for a nonprofit organization, paying membership dues or buying materials for weekly meetings. The intricate procedures all clubs, old and new, must comply with are strictly enforced and routinely updated by ASB’s club commissioners.

Every official club has a bank account that starts with no money. Considering that most clubs do not need much money to keep themselves afloat, this poses no significant concern. Club commissioners emphasize the various opportunities to increase club funds through official fundraisers both on-campus and off-campus alongside monthly PTSA grants that clubs are encouraged to apply for. All budget requests and fundraiser requests are passed by the entire ASB class, published in public meeting minutes that students can find on Cupertino ASB’s website. All these practices are implemented to ensure clear transparency so that all internal decisions are fair and available to the entire Cupertino student body.

When ASB partners with clubs during history weeks and other momentous celebrations, they support the club with various resources, such as mics, media, and other items. Most of ASB’s contributions are non-financial. Said an anonymous ASB member, “[ASB] cannot be biased towards certain clubs as we do not have enough funds to support them all.”

However, there have been discrepancies in how some clubs have been financially treated compared to others during official partnerships. Though coming from an unofficial club, South Asian Heritage Association’s (SAHA) Holi event was funded entirely through the support of Cupertino High’s principal, Kami Tomberlain. Women Empowerment Association’s (WEA) Women History Month Celebration Week did not receive any monetary support, although their Trivia in the Quad event was provided with chip packets from ASB’s previous events. Black Student Union’s (BSU) Black History Month was the only club col- laboration that received full financial backing from ASB.

When talking about this decision, said ASB Treasurer Yoto Kim, “BSU is a special case in that they weren’t established and, therefore, didn’t have the fundraising power to make an event like this happen.” BSU became inactive due to a lack of members to complete the assignments necessary to be considered active, according to the Cupertino Club Constitution. When reactivated this year, BSU could not utilize the hundreds of dollars they once had raised. All Associated Student Bodies in California must abide by the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT). According to the FCMAT’s Official Revised Handbook, “If a club becomes inactive […] the remaining funds would revert to [ASB] unless the club’s constitution or a decision made by students before the club became inactive provides specific instructions to do otherwise.” Currently, the general club constitution holds no clauses related to supporting reactivating clubs clause, which is why ASB was obliged to fund BSU’s events.

Said an anonymous CHS club president, “If [ASB] gives us funds, they are setting a precedent for anyone to ask them for money. ASB probably does not have enough money for that […] Nevertheless, there should be a different financial plan if a club officially partners with ASB ”

KAVYA KAUSHAL writer

RENOVATION

Funding that goes towards renovation and restructuring the campus

RAISSA JI writer

Coming back from a remote school year in 2021, Cupertino High School students were shocked to see a sleek, remodeled campus awaiting them. From the revamped baseball field to the electric vehicle charging stations, the new facilities have made CHS a better environment for students to learn and play. As the sounds of drilling and hammering continue to echo throughout the hallways, students might begin to wonder: where is all this money coming from, anyway?

Funding for renovations at CHS come from bond measures, which are voted on by the residents living in the boundaries of the school district. For example, in November 2018, Bond Measure CC, a $275 million school bond, was passed to build 127 new classrooms district-wide and retouch the 400 remaining classrooms across all five FUHSD schools. “We have been very lucky that the community has supported us [...] with these bond measures for the past few years,” said CHS Assistant Principal Steven Puccinelli. “For the most part, the construction process is run through the Board for ultimate approval, but there is also a Citizen’s Oversight Committee made up of community members who review budgets and expenses for bond projects,”

CHS’ science buildings in the 500s wing have recently been upgraded with LED lighting, new AV equipment, a new roof, new fire alarms and sprinklers, a new Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system, new furniture and more. This project costs $4.7 million, and a similar project in the 300s wing, including a larger teacher’s lounge, costs $5.6 million. cracks repaired.

CHS’ sleek, modernized campus matches the quality of its students, and there is more in store for the future. Said Puccinelli, “We have a new bond measure on the ballot for June, and if it passes, our next big project on CHS campus will be to renovate or build a new music building. We’ll see!”

CHS’ 1 0 0 s wing is currently being reconstructed, and it is part of a larger project with the 400s wing that costs $9.4 million.

Outside of the classroom, CHS has renovated much of its outdoor and athletic facilities. Next to the 100s wing is the new bike plaza for around 1000 bikes, skateboard rack and bike repair station. Behind the wagon wheel is a new patio space with many more benches for seating. The new baseball field has a freshly painted dugout, new home run fence, and water-wise, low-maintenance turf, which is filled with eco-friendly ground-up coconut shells. Other improvements include CHS’ reconstructed handicap accessibility ramps, with adjusted slopes and

SCHOOL EVENTS

Looking at the class funding process for school events

HYUNJUN KIM writer

School events provide an opportunity for students to bond with new people and create a sense of belonging. From school fundraisers and rallies to formal events, Cupertino High School aims to create a more intimate and engaging environment, ultimately leaving a lasting impression of the school. Daniel Chen, a

senior

a t Cupertino High, shared, “One of the most successful school events held at CHS was the MakeA -

Wish Rally for Tony in 2019. As a Make-AWish kid myself, I understand the impact that a wish can have on someone, and especially with a whole school supporting you, it can feel really special.” Ultimately, events are powerful to rally students and strengthen our school spirit. Hence, with the absence of sufficient funds, it is quite difficult to provide a successful event to the school. For example, rallies are held together with the different classes, encouraging school spirit and supporting classmates. Meaning, it is mostly a requirement for classes to expect event expenditures, such as buying and decorating posters, l include creating posters, decorate the rally location, and allow miscellaneous purchases for a successful rally. An anonymous student shared, “Looking around during the rally, there are many things that ASB and the class council have prepared. I didn’t know they prepared this much.”

Gilford Ting, the 2022 Class Council Treasurer, said, “I think a lot of people don’t realize that a lot of the stuff we do requires us to spend money in some capacity.”

Comparing the result and the hefty process of executing events, the required funds and student’s hard work are often overlooked. For example, Clash of the Classes (COTC), Tino’s annual tradition of Homecoming, required each class to choose a class theme and represent them to the entire school. Class councils prepared posters, class-oriented clothes and other resources to embellish the representing class. Said Ting, “COTC required us to buy paint, wood, streamers, balloons, chalk, and other stuff.”

Students often get confused where the funds come from. Shared Ting, “councils do not get funded by the school — we cannot just use ASB funds, because we are technically separate.” Meaning, each class has to raise money on their own to successfully execute what they want to achieve. An anonymous student shared, “I am aware that classes promote fundraisers from Chipotle and MOD Pizza, and I have been to one with my friends. Aside from restaurant fundraisers, class councils have had great turnouts with selling tickets for the formal and school events. Shared Ting, “that is how it had always worked with senior and junior prom and that is what the underclassmen are doing for their [formal events] this year.

Looking forward, Tino aims to raise sufficient funds and bring more diverse events to students. From bonding with other classes to expanding the social circle for more thoughtful inputs, both ASB and class council aim to work respectively on appropriating reasonable budgets for specific events and discussing as a team for making smart decisions when it comes to event expenditures. Shared an anonymous student, “I hope to see more original ideas that will help with class funds and events.” INVESTIGATIONS | 19INVESTIGATIONS | 23