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Unread 26-12-2011, 20:32
Alex.q Alex.q is offline
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FRC #2220 (Blue Twilight)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Rookie Year: 2008
Location: Eagan, Minnesota
Posts: 162
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Re: Engineering and Robotics program in danger

Fortunately, my team probably won't have to face this challenge since we don't get any money from the school district. Our administration has always been really supportive to us anyway. I do have to agree with Blake and the others who have said that FRC is expensive and may not be the most efficient way to teach and motivate STEM. I know there are other programs that I would love to participate in if I wasn't in FIRST. That said though, I still wouldn't want to have to leave/disband my team.

My suggestion to the team would be to be ready to establish yourself as independent from the school in case they stop supporting you. Start your own, separate bank account and start looking for more sponsors. We used our booster club to make a 501c3 and they set up a bank account that the school doesn't control. We still meet at school, but I would think that if the school didn't support your team financially, you could still meet there. If not, I know there are other teams that meet in other places.