Aliso Niguel High School Instrumental Music Boosters

Aliso Niguel High School Instrumental Music Boosters, Inc is a California non-profit corporation recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3)

The Aliso Niguel High School Instrumental Music Boosters, Inc (ANHSIMB) is a California non-profit corporation, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization. Our sole purpose for existence is to provide funding, resources, and support for the instrumental music programs at Aliso Niguel High School.

Formally organized in January 1997, ANHSIMB, Inc. provides funding for coaches, music purchases and licensing, equipment and instrument purchases and repairs, scholarships, transportation, and other things necessary to provide our students with an incredible music education and life-changing experiences. The organization is governed and managed by a Board of Directors, who are elected on an annual basis and serve as unpaid volunteers.

We accomplish our mission by providing volunteers that support the Director of Bands and the various programs offered to our students, conducting fundraising events, soliciting corporate and parent donations, and working in the community to gain support for our programs and students. All funds collected by the organization are used exclusively to benefit the students and instrumental music programs of the school.

How we raise funds to support school instrumental music programs:

As a booster organization supporting programs that are offered as curriculum courses by the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD), we must follow guidelines established by the California Department of Education and the CUSD when it comes to how we raise money to support the ANHS instrumental music programs.

We raise money through donations from parents, businesses and other entities, while also assessing fees for certain services and material items, fees the CUSD has determined that the California Supreme Court has ruled to be “legally authorized by law,” and that booster organizations are authorized to collect*.

Fall activities of the Marching Band, Color Guard and Drum Line are graded and count as physical education curriculum courses by the CUSD. The district offers the option of taking a straight phys-ed course in lieu of Marching Band. Straight phys-ed courses usually charge fees only for a school phys-ed uniform, and are an excellent option for parents who do not wish to incur the fees associated with having their student participate in the marching band program.

Pursuant to rulings by the California Supreme Court*, the following authorized fees are assessed to support the ANHS instrumental music programs:

• Transportation fees – includes all costs associated with transporting excursions of the ANHS Marching Band, Drum Line and Color Guard. The costs for buses, equipment truck rentals, fuel, tolls, etc., are offset by a “fair share” fee charged to each student participating in the Fall Field Season.

Per CUSD Guidelines: “Fees legally allowed by law include fees for field trips and excursions in connection with courses of instruction or school-related social, educational, cultural, athletic, or school band activities, as long as no student is prevented from making the field trip or excursion because of lack of sufficient funds.”

• Uniform/costume fees – members of the Color/Winter Guard and Winter Drum Line are charged a fee that offsets the expense of providing them with a costume(s) for their competitions and activities. Marching Band members are assessed a fee for cleaning and maintaining their band uniforms. Marching Band & Drum Line students are also required to purchase a Band Director-approved marching shoe.

Per CUSD Guidelines: “Charges for standardized physical education attire of a particular color and design (are permitted), but the school may not mandate that the attire be purchased from the school and no physical education grade of a student may be impacted based on the failure to wear standardized apparel “arising from circumstances beyond the control” of the student.”

• Other fees – fees for the following may also be assessed, per CUSD Guidelines:

• Charges for food served to students, subject to free and reduced price meal program eligibility and other restrictions specified in law.

• Paying the replacement cost for District books or supplies (ie: instruments, uniforms, etc) loaned to a student that the student fails to return or that is willfully cut, defaced or otherwise injured, up to an amount not to exceed $10,000.

• Charges for optional attendance as a spectator at a school- or District-sponsored activity.

• Charges for the rental or lease of personal property needed for District purposes, such as caps and gowns for graduation ceremonies.

• Fees for school camp programs, so long as no student is denied the opportunity to participate because of nonpayment of the fee.

Waiver of fees: CUSD guidelines mandate that we provide a waiver to paying any CUSD-authorized fees due to what the District terms “lack of sufficient funds,” or for instances that “arise from circumstances beyond the control” of the student. No student will be denied the opportunity to participate in school “camp” programs due to non-payment of a fee.

Please note that this waiver is granted solely on the basis of financial need/lack of sufficient funds, and not on the basis of philosophical, personal or personality-based reasons for desiring an exemption from paying fees that have been deemed to be legally collectable by the California Supreme Court and the CUSD.

All students will receive a fee waiver form in their music program materials. Parents requesting a waiver of fees must submit the form to the ANHSIMB Treasurer by a date certain. Granting of the request is automatic upon submission of the form (submission of this form is kept in strictest confidence – only the Treasurer of the ANHSIMB will have knowledge of those who have submitted this form, and only to the extent that the knowledge is necessary to provide for the exemption).

As a school-connected organization, we must follow the same Constitutional guidelines related to student fees that mandate all schools and districts provide a public education to your student free of charge. Beyond the collection of certain fees specifically authorized by law and codified in State of California Department of Education Guidelines (which reflect the most recent interpretations of the law by the California Supreme Court), your student’s right to a free public education means that neither the school nor its support organizations can require you or your family to purchase materials, supplies or equipment for any school activity, nor can we require you or your family to pay security deposits or make donations in order to participate in the program. A student’s grade may not be lowered for not wearing a specific uniform in a PE class. All donations are strictly voluntary and greatly appreciated as we work together to support our schools and programs!

Donations: In addition to collecting legally authorized fees, the ANHSIMB also solicits donations‡ from parents and other supporters to cover costs not deemed or mentioned by the CUSD as being subject to being collected as a district-approved fee.

This includes the costs associated with hiring the specialized staff needed to assist the Director of Bands in training our students in the various aspects of the Marching Band, Drum Line and Color Guard disciplines; music purchases and licensing; instrument and equipment purchases and repairs; scholarships; etc.

While we will suggest a donation level for each student in the program, all donations are strictly voluntary. No student will be denied access to instrumental music programs for non-payment of any suggested donation.

Open Meeting Policy: Generally, meetings of the Board of Directors are open to the public and are held at 7:00pm on the 3rd Wednesday of each sunshine-lawmonth in the ANHS Band Room. Please check the calendar for upcoming dates and please plan to attend.

(*Collection of fees from students by booster organizations has been authorized by the California Supreme Court in rulings pertaining to AB 1575 – Stats. 2012, c. 776, and including but not limited to EC Sections 49011(e), 39807.5(b), (d), & (f), and 35330(b), as codified in Fiscal Management Advisories 12-01 & 12-02 issued by the California Department of Education, which inform legal parameters established within the Capistrano Unified School District.)

(‡As the ANHSIMB, Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, your donations to it are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Individual circumstances will vary. Please check with your tax adviser for more information.)

As a non-profit corporation, the ANHSIMB Inc’s tax returns are open and available for public inspection. For more information, visit the Foundation Center. Our tax ID number is 33-0778424.

26895 Aliso Creek Rd, # B-682
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
United States