Officials at an Atlanta elementary school spent more than half the money from a fundraiser on instructors and staff, not on the students, according to Channel 2 Action News.
The 2016 candy sale for Tuskegee Airmen Global Academy, whose entire enrollment of 800 is from economically disadvantaged families, pulled in at least $6,359, the news station reported.
However, about $3,279 — more than 50 percent of the money raised — went for things such as bowling, food and clothing for adults, according to Channel 2.
Among the expenditures was $1,106 for a bowling event for 40 people, none of them students, at Main Event on Cobb Parkway.
Channel 2 reported the school spent another $707 on windbreakers for adults.
About $2,542 — 40 percent of the money raised — was spent on students.
The most spent at one time for the students was $596 to feed nearly 100 people on field trip to Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, records show. The school spent a total of $700 on sweater-vests for students.
It was unclear how the remaining $538 was spent.
Channel 2 used the Georgia Open Records Act to obtain the information.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
A parent told Channel 2 she was upset by the spending on adults. She thought proceeds from the candy sale would be used for students.
"How is that benefiting the kids?” the woman, who was not identified, asked. “Y'all having a bowling party but no children are there?
“How is a bowling party or jackets ... improving their learning?”
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Atlanta Public Schools released a statement on the situation. It read in part:
"School-based fundraisers, such as candy sales, are a common occurrence across Atlanta Public Schools ... (They) are planned collaboratively among parent-teacher associations, students, school leaders, and community partners. These groups determine the use of the funds they raise in the best interest of their schools."
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