TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Ridgeview High School's music program coffers went from thousands in years past to zero this school year because of budget cuts.

Fundraisers came to the rescue.

Nearly every month, the parent-run booster club hosts a large fundraiser -- car washes and ice skating parties -- to pay for things such as new instruments, repairs and competitions. Several smaller fundraisers, like sales, take place year-round -- anything to "pick up the tab," said Jim Weesner, booster club president.

"Music is incredibly expensive," he said.

To attract donors, they've had to get creative, too. For the first time, students and parents this year offered a "scratch card" fundraiser, where donors give based on what they scratch from a card, like a lottery scratcher. For next year, expected to be more of the same in terms of budget troubles, they're planning new events to be determined.

Cuts to programs still had to be made: fewer out-of-town trips for music groups, and no more over-night trips during competitions.

"The parents have really buckled down, and they understand everybody is hurting," said Weesner, who has two daughters at Ridgeview. "But I don't ever want to tell the kids we can't go to a competition because of money."

More than ever, fundraising at schools -- from kindergarten to college -- has become vital to support and keep student and school functions afloat, school officials said. But fundraising has also grown tougher, as everyone feels the effect of a down economy, and school groups seek limited cash.

FUNDING PROBLEMS

Kern County districts are receiving less money from the state, and are expected to see millions less in the coming years. As a result, districts have cut budgets to the bone, laying off teachers, reducing services and operations, and handing out less to school sites for items such as school supplies.

Some districts have had to stop funding for school functions completely. Kern High School District this year put limits on team travel. Field trips at most local elementary districts are left to parent groups to fund.

That can be a tough task for parents at some schools, especially considering the county reached a near-record 17.4 percent unemployment rate in February.

And perhaps that's the reason parents at Castle Elementary School this year fell short. The parents needed to raise nearly $30,000 for students to go to Camp KEEP, an out-of-town, weeklong environmental education program.

At Castle, nearly 85 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Parents simply couldn't garner enough cash, and for the first time in at least 14 years that Lisa Beasley has been at the school, students were unable to attend.

"It was a very difficult decision that had to be made," said Beasley, the school's principal. "Our families are paying their own bills. Additional expenses can be hard for some of those families."

Fundraising efforts aren't only a K-12 issue. At Cal State Bakersfield, campaigns are underway to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to save sports programs. President Horace Mitchell announced in February that four sports would need to be cut to meet a $6.4 million budget gap next school year.

PRESSURE TO FUNDRAISE

Across the state schools are fundraising to keep libraries open, buy computers and even pay for teacher salaries, according to a Sacramento Bee report.

And parent groups are feeling the pressure as districts depend more on them to fundraise, said Carrie Freeman, treasurer for Parent Teacher Association's Kern County region.

"PTA is not a fundraising organization, it's an advocacy group," she said. "We're having to fund more and more basic things," like school supplies.

But parent volunteers, she said, are trying hard to find any money they can. Recently, parents at Wingland Elementary in Standard School District, where Freeman is based, hosted a craft fair for the first time ever.

"It's all for the kids, and that's the biggest thing," Freeman said.

At Mira Monte High School, they've had to try new things this year to get money for sports programs and equipment, said Shane Koerner, activities director. This year it started selling "spirit cups," drinking cups with team logos on them.

"You have to find things that are a little more unique," Koerner said, adding Mira Monte is one of few groups in Bakersfield selling the cups. "A lot of schools do the same fundraisers."

At Centennial High School, several academic teams have partnered with Jim Burke Ford for a newer fundraiser. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the student parking lot at 8601 Hageman Drive, Ford is donating $20 for every test drive to the school's forensics, mock trial, virtual business and "We the People" teams in a fundraiser called Drive One 4 UR School.

Ford is paying up to $6,000. Funds will help the mock trial team, which currently has 82 cents in its account, pay for competitions and T-shirts, said Brett Dobson, government teacher and mock trial coach. Usually, Dobson said, the team simply ask for donations from people and businesses throughout the community.

"With our program, it's hard to fundraise and also keep the kids focused on the competition as well," Dobson said.

TRICKY FUNDRAISING

Still, school fundraising can be tricky because certain rules restrict efforts, said Tina Woo Jung, a spokeswoman for California Department of Education. For example, students aren't allowed to sell candy for fundraisers on campuses.

The state department has been inundated with school fundraising questions recently from parents and school officials. A statement is prepared to give them, Jung said.

"We sympathize with schools that are dealing with severe budget cuts as a result of the state budget crisis that has resulted in billions of dollars in cutbacks for education programs over the past few years," the statement reads. "What they can do is encourage parents to start booster clubs for fund-raising purposes."

So far, fundraising has worked out for Weesner and his booster club. The annual fireworks sale rakes in nearly 70 percent of all funds, but "if they ever outlaw fireworks here, we'll be in trouble," Weesner said.

Rob Martens, Ridgeview's instrumental music director, said he's thankful for the boosters' hard work. He said he realizes fundraising wasn't easy at the school where dozens of families have lost homes in recent years.

"They've really stepped up," Martens said. "We'll be free and clear because of the parents."