FIRST Financial System Problems

[waialua359]

If you need help in ordering parts, we can help.
Our funds are tight as well and in many cases has certain expectations and routes in which we receive them.
However, we also have a rainy day fund as we, like you folks, understand that you NEED parts when you NEED parts!
If you can just pay us back when you receive the funds, then that's fine.
Otherwise, I'll talk to your dad.

**I wanted to add that if you need AndyMark stuff, I have an account with them with credit and ordering will be fast, since they respond and ship immediately as well.

PM me.

-Glenn

[ScottOliveira]

Originally Posted by waialua359

If you need help in ordering parts, we can help.
Our funds are tight as well and in many cases has certain expectations and routes in which we receive them.
However, we also have a rainy day fund as we, like you folks, understand that you NEED parts when you NEED parts!
If you can just pay us back when you receive the funds, then that's fine.
Otherwise, I'll talk to your dad.

**I wanted to add that if you need AndyMark stuff, I have an account with them with credit and ordering will be fast, since they respond and ship immediately as well.

PM me.

-Glenn

Glenn, I appreciate the offer. However at this point the lead on the parts we need is too great. And again, myself and other mentors on the team have personal accounts that we could draw on, but due to the way the school financial system works, if we had ordered parts prior to the funds being available in the school accounts, the school would not have been able to reimburse us for any large purchase.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by ScottOliveira

..... but due to the way the school financial system works, if we had ordered parts prior to the funds being available in the school accounts, the school would not have been able to reimburse us for any large purchase.

It sounds like you have an opportunity here to invite some of the "financial" staff at the school to come spend 6+ weeks with your students to help then "learn how school finance works". That just may have an additional side affect. They will see why it is so important to you to have funding when it is needed, and not just when it fits their criteria. Some leniency may be developed if you get them actively involved in the students activities, and see the value and benefits that participation in FIRST provides.

[Jimmy Nichols]

Originally Posted by billbo911

It sounds like you have an opportunity here to invite some of the "financial" staff at the school to come spend 6+ weeks with your students to help then "learn how school finance works". That just may have an additional side affect. They will see why it is so important to you to have funding when it is needed, and not just when it fits their criteria. Some leniency may be developed if you get them actively involved in the students activities, and see the value and benefits that participation in FIRST provides.

A lot fo times its not just the school, but the district policies that require school board approval. In some case it could be state policies governing the way the schools manage their money and reimburesements.

I know for us it was a combination of both.

[wilsonmw04]

I understand that FIRST's financial department has been in flux.

School teams have some interesting rules when it comes to money. Some solutions that non-school based teams have will not work for the parent schools.