MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL
VOL. 54, NO. 6
February 22, 2019
41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: ASB AND CLASS FUNDS By Alisha Chhangani, Riya Chopra, Kimberly Huang & Jonathan Liu Staff Writers
oVERVIEW
september 2018-present
15.8%
L2 Fundraising committee
Homecoming and Homecoming Extravaganza Luncheons
Store and to a lesser extent, apparel and vari-
L2/Supplies Other
Council
ASB expenditures are published on http://www.msjasb.org.
ous merchandise sold during Orientation.
Class of 2020 Expenses
Class of 2019 Expenses
The Class of 2019 makes the most profit from events, namely Waterworld CA and Winter Ball, Homecoming apparel, and senior lanyards. The main goals of fundraising are to lower the price of prom tickets and pay for the costs of graduation, such as venue costs, at the end of the year. The Waterworld tickets are received from Waterworld and resold to students for profit, with unsold tickets returned. Further funds are earned from sponsorships. Treasurer Senior Ishil Puri oversees and keeps track of expenditures for all events.
sPONSORSHIPS Class sponsorships are split into bronze, silver, and gold levels, valued at $250, $500, and $750, respectively. Class of 2019 sponsorships are valued at $250, $500, and $1,000. Each level offers a different means of sponsorship publicity depending on how much each sponsor pays. For example, bronze-level sponsors receive a promotion through Facebook, while gold-level sponsors receive publicity on banners or through announcements during Homecoming in addition to other benefits.
Class of 2022 Expenses
32.3%
33.8%
Prom
5.2%
1.0%
44.0% 77.8%
62.5%
Winter Ball
Class of 2021 Expenses
16.0%
2.8% 1.2% 0.7%
79.3%
Homecoming Lanyards
The primary role of the Fundraising Committee is to plan various events throughout the year, such as alumni workshops and the Charity Fashion Show, find sponsors for the Brick Project, and raise money. Their sources of revenue include the snow cone and popcorn machines used during special events and on-campus fundraisers, such as their Valentine’s Grams. Funds from most events are allocated toward Leadership 2 (L2) activities, the sole exception being the Charity Fashion Show, from which all proceeds go to charity like the American Cancer Society and Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation.
27.1%
ASB’s primary source of profit is the Student
Hurricane Harbor
36.5%
15.5%
ASB Treasurer Senior Benjamin Lam’s main duties are managing the Student Store by stocking items, depositing funds collected to Forsythe at the end of the week, helping students through the expenditure process, and making sure all money is accounted for. ASB’s primary source of profit is the Student Store and to a lesser extent, apparel and various merchandise sold during Orientation. Funds are allocated towards upkeep of facilities like the Student Store, DJ, decorations, and lights for events like Homecoming Extravaganza (HCX), and quarterly student-teacher relation lunches. A major ongoing ASB project is the Brick Project to construct a walkway of engraved bricks between the B and Cwings, which is also funded by the Mission Possible Parent and Faculty Association, Student Planner advertisements, and company sponsorships.
Prom
Account Clerk Michele Forsythe works with ASB to facilitate the funds process for MSJ clubs, classes, and teachers, and communicates with the district to answer any questions about the accounting process. Forsythe and ASB follow a financial guidebook of rules and regulations written by Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Interventionist Michael Ammermon from the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), and each spring, MSJ undergoes an audit process to check for fraud and any other inconsistencies in the financial record. MSJ’s current auditor company, Nigro & Nigro, PC, tracks each transaction, starting from the pre-approved expenditure request to the mailing of the check, to confirm that the process has been carried out properly.
5.1%
asb treasurer benjamin lam
16.0%
Account Clerk Michele Forsythe
ASB EXPENSES
ASB and class finances are a significant aspect of MSJ that keeps clubs, classes, and events running year-round. The funding process, though vital to our school’s day-today operation, is largely a mystery to students. With this in mind, the Smoke Signal compiled an informative spread about the workings of MSJ’s financial sphere.
3.7%
Homecoming Extravaganza
23.7% Homecoming Extravaganza
Prom
Homecoming
Homecoming
The Class of 2020 officers plan to raise most of their class’s money from selling apparel and obtaining sponsorships, which they modeled after receiving advice from the Class of 2019 officers that fundraisers were not substantially profitable. Class funds are allocated to prom and homecoming supplies. Treasurer Junior Nathan Tran makes periodic venue payments for both this year’s and next year’s prom. During Homecoming, his responsibility was to oversee the expenditure process for buying supplies like backdrops, paint, and streamers.
According to Class of 2021 Treasurer Sophomore Tavish Mohanti, the class’s financial stability is mainly due to funds from selling different items, such as apparel and food, and various sponsors. Selling class T-shirts during Homecoming and food at Winter Ball has also been a large source of income for the Class of 2021. Each major fundraising event raises $500 to $600 and most of this money is allocated to Homecoming expenditures like balloons and art supplies. The majority of their expenses goes toward their junior prom venue.
STUDENT VOICES
Maze Day
Fundraisers Homecoming Extravaganza
The Class of 2022 earns most of its profit from Homecoming merchandise sales and food sales. According to Class Treasurer Freshman Alvin Wang, the freshman class earned a total of $800 in sales during Homecoming. Most of that money was allocated to Homecoming decorations and supplies. Wang also hopes to earn funds by selling food during Multicultural Week. However, an issue with selling food is that, after reimbursement, the remaining profit is usually low. For example, during Orientation in September, the class only made $20 from selling food like chips and salsa as well as their staple item McFlurries.
In what ways would you like to see class officers or ASB share financial updates with students?
What would you like to see your class or ASB spend more or less money on? “I would like to see [ASB] spend money on things that students would probably appreciate more and not things that don’t affect student directly. I’m not sure where this stands, or if this stands within ASB capabilities, but facility development would be something I would like to see. It would make life a lot better considering we spend a lot of time at MSJ.”— Kriti Iyer, 11
Homecoming
I would like our class officers to create a page where they show us how much money our class has, what they’re spending it on and exactly how much it costs, how much money we’re earning and from what, and what we have now. Also, this page should be updated very often, so we have a realistic idea.” — Trini Leung, 12 “I think all ASB purchases are already accessible through the MSJ ASB website, but maybe creating an organized monthly update would make it easier for the general student body to understand.” — Ethan Wong, 12 graphics by alorica.com, cliipartmax.com, flaticon.com, kisspng.com
DIRECTOR’S INSIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH
HALAL GUYS RESTAURANT REVIEW
The Smoke Signal conducted an interview with Saila Kariat, director of feature film The Valley. The film focuses on a Silicon Valley family’s experience dealing with their daughter’s mental health issues.
Wondering if the well-acclaimed Halal Guys restaurant is worth trying out? Read the Smoke Signal’s review on the newly opened Pacific Commons restaurant.
FOR MORE COVERAGE,
VISIT www.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG