But schools will need to obtain state license before holding raffles like Chinese auctions and 50-50s
Dawn Collins, PS 1 PTA treasurer and Chinese Auction co-organizer, is pictured here at her home in Tottenville with some of the baskets she would use in a Chinese auction. She will need to obtain a Games of Chance License before organizing it.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. --- They're not quite gambling halls or casinos, but public schools might have to get a Games of Chance License from the state if they want to continue some of their fundraisers.According to a new proposal, which will be voted on later this month, schools cannot hold raffles, such as 50-50s or Chinese auctions, unless they have the license from the state Racing and Wagering Board, which also involves getting an ID number and filling out numerous forms.
The changes, updated yesterday, followed an earlier proposal that banned raffles all together. The policy, along with parents' concerns, was outlined in an Advance story on Monday.
City officials said the policy was originally written by the Department of Education's legal department, but once they realized the impact it would have on PTAs, raffles were approved once again.
"The Chancellor hadn't been informed of the proposed change," said DOE Press Secretary David Cantor. "When he learned of it, he determined that while schools need to follow applicable laws, we weren't going to disallow parent associations from holding raffles, especially given the economic climate."
Local PTAs said they were glad the restriction was lifted, but said they still weren't certain whether the new policy would be feasible for their organizations.
"I don't know if it's better or worse but it's very confusing," said Karen Malone, the treasurer of the PTA for the Hungerford School, Clifton. "What's going to happen is a lot of schools are going to say, 'eh, I don't care, let's see if they catch us' and stuff like that. And it's going to get ugly. That's why I'm trying to stay on top of everything."
The state rules for holding a raffle are onerous and the specifics depend on how much is earned from each raffle and the total amount raised over the course of the year.
Chinese auctions are one of the most popular -- and lucrative -- events at public schools, generating as much as $20,000 each time an event is held, parents said. At the auction, parents pay for dinner and a set of raffle tickets when they walk in the door. Numbers are called and the winner takes home a prize.
Organizing an auction can take months, between writing hundreds of letters to organizations to collect donations of items, putting together baskets and renting a space.