We live in a world driven by money, and like many things, school clubs need money to be able to function. So, where do we get this money? Other than small fundraising activities on school grounds, the obvious answer is from the deep pockets of parents. However, this comes with some questions that need to be addressed. Is having families cover the costs of club activities sustainable? Is it enough? And most importantly, is it fair?

Right now, the financial burden of club activities falls mostly on members and their families, and depending on the club, these costs can be staggering. For example, Charlotte Valvanis ’26, a PHS Model United Nations officer, explained that tournament costs can range from around $200–$500 per student. Although these costs might not be a concern for some families, the same cannot be said for all. PHS’s student body is made up of people of diverse financial backgrounds, and we should provide equal opportunities to all students, or else we risk these club activities only being accessible to those who are more privileged.

We should provide equal opportunities to all students.

Having only a few clubs receive a stipend from the school brings up the issue of fairness. How should we decide who will get the funds? How much will they receive? Where is this money coming from? The district needs to set aside a budget dedicated to club activities. Once there is a budget, club leaders can submit grant applications to be reviewed by a committee team consisting of administrators and students. In the beginning of the school year, clubs that need funding can explain the total amount they will need and what they will need it for in a detailed application. Considering that our funds will be limited, the job of the committee will be to decide what percent of a club’s request to actually grant.

In addition to funding club costs, part of this budget can be set aside to provide financial aid. Right now, clubs lack a reliable system to support students who need financial assistance. Dean of Students Diana Lygas revealed that financial aid generally is funded by other members of the club who pay increased fees.

Another important factor to consider, however, is where this money will come from. It is the school district’s responsibility to facilitate education, and club activities contribute to the academic excellence and reputation of our district. Just as how the district has budgets for other parts of our school system like facility maintenance and staff salaries, they can set aside a budget for student club activities too. Another way to finance this budget pool would be to engage alumni donors. Some high schools create a strong alumni network to help support student activities. PHS has prominent alumni in a variety of fields, and their contributions could go towards financing this budget to support clubs.

Of course, the proposal outlined here is just one possible way of addressing the club funding issue. Like for any other problem, the first step to finding a solution is acknowledging that there is a problem to be solved: that school clubs are negatively afffected by a lack of funding.