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Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Springs School District Superintendent Shalee Cunningham will begin the discussion tonight of when a gift is more than just a gift.

As the Education Fund Board works through the budgeting process for the next school year, School Board members have discussed the need for a gift acceptance policy. The Fund Board administers the city's half-cent sales tax for education.

The question was raised because the School Board does not want to take on some gifts that require future funding - potentially forcing the School Board to take over their costs - or accept gifts that are not effective.

At a workshop Jan. 23, School Board Vice President Denise Connelly said a detailed policy for what gifts to accept would make the process easier for all involved.

"We need more criteria for accepting gifts. It takes the emotion out of it," she said. "That communication beforehand of bringing people into the loop."

Cunningham said she spends "a great deal of time" talking to parents who have made or want to make proposals to the Fund Board.

"Politically, it's not that clean," she said. "My concern was to keep the peace and make sure the gifts we accept are in the best interest of 2,000 parents."

When the Fund Board approves a request from one of its three commissions, the gift then goes before the School Board.

Also tied to the acceptance of the gifts is the efficacy of the programs funded. School Board member Lisa Brown said by scrutinizing what the district accepts, it also will help the School Board increase accountability.

"That's how you start to be accountable," she said. "You are intentional about your behaviors and your spending of resources and your use of time."

In her report to the School Board at tonight's meeting, Cunningham is presenting several examples of acceptance policies.

An example from the Colorado Association of School Boards includes a stipulation that gifts must be aligned with a school district's goals.

"To be accepted, the gift must support purposes consistent with those of the school district or school. Whenever possible, cooperative selection of the type of gift is encouraged," that policy states.

The board will not take action on the item tonight but may schedule it for a future meeting.

- To reach Zach Fridell, call 871-4208 or e-mail zfridell@steamboatpilot.com