Photo by Greg Barnette / Record Searchlight

Kevin Kerscher helps his daughter Cassandra Kerscher, 7, both of Anderson, pick out books Thursday during the book fair at Boulder Creek elementary school.

Photo by Greg Barnette / Record Searchlight

Books on display at Boulder Creek elementary school during the schools book fair on Thursday.

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Todd Clark, principal at Buckeye School of the Arts, loves book fairs and thinks they're the perfect fundraiser for students.

"Let's sell them books instead of candy bars," he said.

More than ever, fundraisers play an essential role in helping schools pay for programs, activities and events that state dollars don't cover. And lately state dollars have covered less and less each year.

"The basics are provided by the state," Clark said.

But if schools want to enrich what they already offer or bring in something new, they have to raise funds to pay for it, he said.

Every year schools in Shasta County raise anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000 each through jog-a-thons, gift wrapping, cookie dough sales, book fairs, dinners and auctions. Much of the money is used to supplement field trips, buy band equipment, repair instruments, pay for art supplies, stage theater productions and improve playground equipment.

"The above and beyond things," Clark said.

And it's something schools have been doing for decades.

"I don't think it's changed much," said RoseAnn Adams, assistant superintendent of business services for the Redding School District.

In fact, with increased academic accountability under No Child Left Behind and the competition created by open enrollment — meaning students can attend any school in the county — the need for schools to enrich what they offer students has only increased.

"I think (fundraisers) have been essential," Adams said.

Most fundraisers are handled through a school's booster or parents club.

"We have a very active booster club," Clark said. "(They're) generating dollars we couldn't get elsewhere."

Last year, he said, the booster club brought in somewhere between $12,000 and $15,000 for the school. Buckeye also was able to raise an additional $2,000 from private donors.

"We've been fairly successful with grant writing and asking businesses for donations," he said.

For example, Seco Manufacturing Co. has been a big supporter of the school, Clark said.

Of course, as is the case with most philanthropic enterprises, it's all tied to the economy.

"When things aren't going well in the economy, the fundraisers aren't going to do well," Adams said.

At North Cow Creek Elementary School in Palo Cedro, that dictum has just played out. Tom Mancuso, the school's new superintendent/principal, said last year's fundraiser brought in about $17,000.

Last month, after the booster club's big dinner and auction fundraiser, the school made just $9,000.

"A sign of the economy," Mancuso said.

However, as important as fundraisers are in bringing extra dollars into school coffers, there's a bigger role they can also play, school officials said.

Fundraisers can serve as a way for the school to create ties with the community and to give parents a way to be involved.

"I think it speaks to community involvement and parents wanting to see more," Mancuso said.

Rob Rogers can be reached at 225-8217 or at rrogers@redding.com.