Coppell Gazette > News
School funds used for dog come under question
By Stephanie Hutson, Staff Writer
It doesn’t seem like a prim-and-proper white poodle should cause such a fuss, but Lakeside Elementary’s school pet, Buddy, has some parents questioning the principal’s allocation of funds to the dog’s expenses.
Lakeside’s principal, Mark Lukert, stands by the school’s spending and approached the microphone at Tuesday night’s public meeting with a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 150.
“This little bite will not get [me] down,” Lukert said. “I have been doing this 30 years and it was my idea to get Buddy…and I am not willing to say no because one or two people have voiced their concern.”
A gym-full of teachers, parents and residents attended the public meeting Tuesday to hear explanations from school officials and ask questions regarding spending on the school’s pet, Buddy, given to the school by a parent in May 2005.
Lukert, who lives in Wichita Falls and rents an apartment in Coppell, said he could not afford the dog’s expenses. Buddy’s immunizations, grooming, surgical expense for a broken hip and school pictures were paid out of the school’s discretionary activity fund. Daily expenses, such as food and treats have been covered by Lukert.
According to the CISD Chief Financial Officer Ralph Seely, a total of $2,331 has been spent on Buddy, all from the activity fund or donations from the “Buddy Box” under the principal’s discretionary control. More than $1,200 of that was for a hip surgery to correct an injury Buddy sustained riding in Lukert’s car.
“Activity fund money can be used for students, teachers and other campus-related activities,” Lukert said.
According to Seely, no district guidelines have been broken. Revenue in the activity fund comes mostly from school pictures, vending machines and PTO donations, and is at the discretion of the principal to spend “to promote the general welfare of each school and the morale of the students,” the policy states.
“As long as it’s legal, it’s up to the principals how they spend it,” Seely said.
Buddy stays with Lukert at night and travels home to Wichita Falls with him on the weekends.
“However, there is a waiting list of teachers and parents for a ‘Buddy sleep over,’” Lukert said.
Lukert originally decided to adopt Buddy as the school dog because of research he read showing the positive effect pets have on students. In the two years Buddy has been at Lakeside, Lukert said he has seen satisfying results.
“He has a calming effect on kids,” Lukert said. “For example, a student got hurt on the playground and Buddy was brought into the nurses’ office, and seeing Buddy distracted the student from his injury and he immediately stopped crying.”
In addition to morale, Lukert said Buddy also helps students academically.
“Students practice their reading with Buddy,” Lukert said. “Students read to him and he just listens. He doesn’t criticize, and he doesn't care if the student reads slowly, he just listens. Overall, Buddy makes the students feel happy.”
In addition to Lukert, many teachers and parents feel money spent on Buddy is well worth it. Music teacher Tamara Lee told stories of the impact Buddy has had on her classes.
“He is the one common thing that unifies every student at Lakeside n he is something every single student has a part in,” Lee said.
But not everyone’s feelings about Buddy are warm and furry. Carol Greenia said Lukert and the school PTO told her no PTO money was spent on Buddy, a statement she believes is false.
“This is about being able to ask the principal and PTO president an honest question and get an honest answer. Why didn’t that happen?” she asked.
The parent of a kindergartener, a third-grader and a fourth-grader at Lakeside was concerned that news cameras and reporters were allowed in the school building to film during the school day, upsetting her children.
While she is not opposed to the school having a pet dog, she is concerned that money could be put to different uses.
“This is not about the dog, this is about the money,” the parent of three students said. “We are in Austin talking about not having enough money…and it all goes to Robin Hood, but we have money for a dog.”
Donald Perschbacher took over as Lakeside PTO treasurer after the former treasurer resigned after he began looking into the Buddy issue. Perschbacher feels that money spent on Buddy is well spent.
“I don’t know how you put a value on what we saw tonight,” he said. “For what Buddy does, $2,300 seems like a small amount to me.”
Lakeside’s principal, Mark Lukert, stands by the school’s spending and approached the microphone at Tuesday night’s public meeting with a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 150.
“This little bite will not get [me] down,” Lukert said. “I have been doing this 30 years and it was my idea to get Buddy…and I am not willing to say no because one or two people have voiced their concern.”
A gym-full of teachers, parents and residents attended the public meeting Tuesday to hear explanations from school officials and ask questions regarding spending on the school’s pet, Buddy, given to the school by a parent in May 2005.
Lukert, who lives in Wichita Falls and rents an apartment in Coppell, said he could not afford the dog’s expenses. Buddy’s immunizations, grooming, surgical expense for a broken hip and school pictures were paid out of the school’s discretionary activity fund. Daily expenses, such as food and treats have been covered by Lukert.
According to the CISD Chief Financial Officer Ralph Seely, a total of $2,331 has been spent on Buddy, all from the activity fund or donations from the “Buddy Box” under the principal’s discretionary control. More than $1,200 of that was for a hip surgery to correct an injury Buddy sustained riding in Lukert’s car.
“Activity fund money can be used for students, teachers and other campus-related activities,” Lukert said.
According to Seely, no district guidelines have been broken. Revenue in the activity fund comes mostly from school pictures, vending machines and PTO donations, and is at the discretion of the principal to spend “to promote the general welfare of each school and the morale of the students,” the policy states.
“As long as it’s legal, it’s up to the principals how they spend it,” Seely said.
Buddy stays with Lukert at night and travels home to Wichita Falls with him on the weekends.
“However, there is a waiting list of teachers and parents for a ‘Buddy sleep over,’” Lukert said.
Lukert originally decided to adopt Buddy as the school dog because of research he read showing the positive effect pets have on students. In the two years Buddy has been at Lakeside, Lukert said he has seen satisfying results.
“He has a calming effect on kids,” Lukert said. “For example, a student got hurt on the playground and Buddy was brought into the nurses’ office, and seeing Buddy distracted the student from his injury and he immediately stopped crying.”
In addition to morale, Lukert said Buddy also helps students academically.
“Students practice their reading with Buddy,” Lukert said. “Students read to him and he just listens. He doesn’t criticize, and he doesn't care if the student reads slowly, he just listens. Overall, Buddy makes the students feel happy.”
In addition to Lukert, many teachers and parents feel money spent on Buddy is well worth it. Music teacher Tamara Lee told stories of the impact Buddy has had on her classes.
“He is the one common thing that unifies every student at Lakeside n he is something every single student has a part in,” Lee said.
But not everyone’s feelings about Buddy are warm and furry. Carol Greenia said Lukert and the school PTO told her no PTO money was spent on Buddy, a statement she believes is false.
“This is about being able to ask the principal and PTO president an honest question and get an honest answer. Why didn’t that happen?” she asked.
The parent of a kindergartener, a third-grader and a fourth-grader at Lakeside was concerned that news cameras and reporters were allowed in the school building to film during the school day, upsetting her children.
While she is not opposed to the school having a pet dog, she is concerned that money could be put to different uses.
“This is not about the dog, this is about the money,” the parent of three students said. “We are in Austin talking about not having enough money…and it all goes to Robin Hood, but we have money for a dog.”
Donald Perschbacher took over as Lakeside PTO treasurer after the former treasurer resigned after he began looking into the Buddy issue. Perschbacher feels that money spent on Buddy is well spent.
“I don’t know how you put a value on what we saw tonight,” he said. “For what Buddy does, $2,300 seems like a small amount to me.”
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