Scrip Tuition Policy

November 18, 2005

Dear Families:

We are pleased to share some exciting news about Scrip, a fundraising program that works while you shop. Scrip is simply a word that means “substitute money” – in other words, Scrip is gift certificates from national and local retailers. They are the same gift certificates that you buy at the store. Many popular retailers participate in our Scrip program including Coborns, Parker’s Food Pride, gas stations, Charlie’s Pizza, JCPenney, Kohls, and many, many others.

Scrip participating retailers agree to sell gift certificates to our school at a discount. Mary of Lourdes families, like yours, buy the certificates for full face value, redeem them for full face value, and our school keeps the difference as revenue. The exciting news is that Mary of Lourdes School Board approved a new Scrip Tuition Policy, in which school families can benefit by receiving a reduction for the following year through Scrip purchases.

The Scrip Tuition Policy is:

• Anyone may purchase Scrip and 50% of the profit of what a shopper buys will be applied to the tuition of a specific family.

• Scrip can only be accumulated to pay for the following year’s tuition. Additional money can not be accumulated beyond one year. If a family accumulates more Scrip than its tuition costs, the additional Scrip funds would be pooled into a Scholarship Tuition Fund and/or general fund. A purchaser may designate where his or her credit should be applied, either to a specific family or scholarship fund. Final distribution of these profits is determined by the School Board based on needs of the school.

• The timeframe would be for parents to utilize Scrip during a fiscal year of July 1 to June 20 and then the savings would be applied to the following year’s tuition. Credit for Scrip profits will not be given for the weeks of June 20 – July 1, due to the financial audit.

• In order for a family to receive tuition credit, the purchase form must be completed in its entirety. If this is not done, no credit will be received. Purchasers are responsible for accuracy.

When ordering Scrip, please ensure that you write your name and date on the front page, identify a child’s name on the back side and have a Scrip Seller sign the back page. The forms need to include this information in order for you to receive a credit to your family’s tuition. If the form is not completed in its entirety, the profit will go to the general fund. Attached is a sample order form.

You may purchase Scrip by the following ways:

• After Mass on Saturday or Sunday at the tri-parishes,
• At the school offices, Monday through Friday, or
• By completing an order form and sending it to school with your child. If your order is in the school office by Monday morning, the order will be delivered the following Monday. If you submit an order Tuesday through Friday, the order form will be reviewed the following Monday and then the order will be delivered to you the Monday of the next week.

A copy of your order form will be returned with your order.

This new, exciting Scrip Tuition Policy will start on Monday, November 21, 2005. Remember that family and friends who use Scrip can designate the profit to go to your family’s tuition. You will receive quarterly reports, indicating how much money will be credited to your next year’s tuition.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, feel free to contact either MOLS principal.