Case study methodology and applications

¶ … low-income school, the school is dependent on outside sources to assist with extra costs associated with school.

For example, field trips, clothing and supplies. Whereas other schools within the district have students who come from family backgrounds that can afford such extras, your school's student population cannot. Without these extras, the students' educational experience is lessened. Further, other schools in the district have parent-teacher associations that are able to fundraise funds that cover much of these extra expenses. However, because your school caters to a low-income population, such fundraising is not feasible.

Currently, this dilemma has been overcome by using profits from soft-drink and snack food sales. However, like many school districts across the nation, your school district is considering a ban, or at least a limitation, on these types of sales within the schools. It is hard to argue that this ban should not take place because childhood obesity is an important problem that needs to be addressed. Further, it is hard to justify promoting such a harm to students in order to provide beneficial extras. Thus, the solution that you need to come up with is to find a different source of funds.

One possible source is with the snack food and beverage distributors. More likely than not, the unhealthy options will be replaced with healthier options, such as juices and other healthy snack food. Most snack-food and beverage companies will also sell these healthy options, so the same company that is currently contracted with the school district may continue to be the provider. If this is the case, you should encourage the school district to negotiate a contract that includes excess funds being returned to the schools in order to fund miscellaneous extras. If a different company is being contracted, you should likewise encourage the school district to make this excess funds program a mandatory part of any bids that will be considered.

Other options that you may consider are to suggest that the school district look to create a school-wide parent-teacher association. Under such a system, all schools will submit all funds to a common, district-wide account. Individual schools may then apply to use these funds on an as-needed basis. This way there will be more equality of services and opportunities across the district.