What does the P&C spend money on?

Planned funding requests from the school

The majority of P&C funding is allocated to significant investments in the school, including the support of School Learning Support Officers (SLSOs) and technological upgrades in classrooms, such as smartboards and laptops.

As part of a four-year agreement established in 2024, the P&C has committed to contributing $75,000 annually towards school expenses. 

Ad-hoc funding requests from the school

Occasionally, the school might submit a small funding request for an unanticipated expense, such as the replacement of PSSA jerseys.

Ad-hoc funding requests from parents

BPPS parents and P&C members are welcome to submit funding proposals for items that will benefit students, such as new sheet music for the band or Ozobots for the Robotics Club. These proposals will be subject to approval through a vote at a general meeting.

P&C equipment

The P&C may purchase non-event-specific items that provide long-term benefits, such as portable speakers and microphones that would otherwise require rental. These items will be owned by the P&C and stored in the school shed for use at future events.

Event-specific funding

The P&C has routinely provided funding for event decorations (for Mums’ Night and Parents’ Night), and on occasion has funded initiatives that we believe contribute to the generous community spirit of BPPS (such as the coffee van on Grandparents’ Day).  

Running expenses

Some small expenses are necessary for the ongoing running of the P&C. This includes insurance, third-party financial audits and website software.

How is funding approved?

The majority of expenses are proposed and voted on during P&C general meetings, which are held twice a term. General meetings are open for all to attend, and any financial member of the P&C is eligible to participate in these votes. 

The P&C executive team does have the authority to make decisions within certain financial limits without needing to hold a general meeting vote, as outlined in the P&C NSW Federation's Model Constitution (Clause 8.2). This allows for quick and practical decisions on smaller, routine expenses, as long as they fall within the established budget for the social fund.

To promote fairness, the BPPS P&C Executive Committee has established a policy limiting internal funding votes to a maximum allocation of $1,000 per term. Any additional funding requests will be subject to approval through a vote during a general meeting.

Do I get a say in how P&C funds are spent?

If you are a financial member of the P&C, you are entitled to participate in all votes for funding held at general meetings.

What if I disagree with how funding is allocated?

We want to ensure the process is fair and transparent. All financial members of the P&C are invited to attend any general meeting where a vote on funding will be held, and they are welcome to have their say on any funding matters. Where possible we’ll give advance notice of any votes planned.

What will the P&C fund in 2025?

The P&C will send out a Parents & Carers’ survey in Term 1 to all families. The intention is to gather perspectives from the entire community on what should be prioritised for funding.