OK - question for you guys. I need help calculating time for volunteer hours. The teacher asks for parents to make copies at home using their own paper and ink instead of going to the school and doing it with the school's and teacher's supplies. She says she will give volunteer hours for this. Then, she asks the parents for the amount of time to credit for the copies. I told her I could do a couple of hundred copies and she sent me over 530 to do.
I had to go to the store and get paper first. Then, I underestimated how much ink it would take and had to go back to the store and get more ink. Then, on my home printer, I printed out the master set and made 23 copies of 22 different worksheets. As I'm sure you are all aware, home printers/copiers are pretty slow and mine is about 10 years old.
So, how do you think the time should be measured? Should I include the trips to the store? Should I include the time it actually took the printer to make the copies, or just the time I had to scoop it up and change each sheet?
If I was at the school doing this - it would probably have taken 1.5 - 2 hours using their Gissendaner (you have to set a master each time and then run it) and the school's materials. But it took me longer at home.
The teacher seemed shocked by the actual time it took. I mean, I get it - if I made the copies at work, the work copier could have done the job in about 15 minutes, but at home, that's a whole different animal.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
Calculate the time spent picking up the paper - round trip, plus cost of paper.
Also, calculate the time (and expense) for ink.
Calculate how much time you spent monitoring the printer. Were you able to
do other things while the printer was running? If you had to stay and "babysit"
the printer, include the entire time.
Also, when computer volunteer hours for tax purposes, you also add in mileage.
Well, you ARE a lawyer and my lawyer charged me time every time my case crossed his mind.
Seemed like it, anyway.
Seriously, I'd calculate the trip to the store and give each piece of paper a time.
Like 30 seconds a sheet?
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
What do your volunteer hours earn you? I'm just curious since you need to keep track of them.
Anyway, I doubt I'd count the trips to the store. Maybe ask some of the other parents how they are calculating so you are in line.
For the school we attend, as part of our contract, we are required to provide 20 hours of volunteer service in some manner each year. And it is tracked. If you don't get your 20 hours, your kids can't go back the next year.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
What do your volunteer hours earn you? I'm just curious since you need to keep track of them.
Anyway, I doubt I'd count the trips to the store. Maybe ask some of the other parents how they are calculating so you are in line.
For the school we attend, as part of our contract, we are required to provide 20 hours of volunteer service in some manner each year. And it is tracked. If you don't get your 20 hours, your kids can't go back the next year.
Yikes. Next time volunteer to go THERE, stand in front of THEIR copier, use THEIR supplies and call it done! While saving yourself a bunch of time, of course.
All schools should do this. Whether it be parking lot duty, or making copies, all parents need to be involved. ..
I agree that all parents should be involved. But mandating certain duties would be terribly difficult. When I worked 70+ hours a week, comuting one hour each way, working all shifts, if I had parking lot duty...I wouldn't be able to do it. I wasn't even in control of my schedule and it changed week to week. I managed to show up for conferences and any performances she had. Anything else would have been a burden. DH might have, might have, been able to pick up a few hours. But it would have been really tough.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
My parents weren't that involved. Why do more parents need to be involved? Kids already cant function with all the adults micromanaging their every move.
Yikes. Next time volunteer to go THERE, stand in front of THEIR copier, use THEIR supplies and call it done! While saving yourself a bunch of time, of course.
The point of the volunteer system for LL's school is to cut costs and have someone other than teachers and administrators have to do task that just about anyone to do, it helps them be able to focus on what they should focus, the education of the kids.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
There is so much that volunteers can do and it doesn't have to be time consuming.
When parents are involved, the kids do better.
Field trips were the biggest problem.
Seemed the same 6 of us every time.
And the few times a dad showed up was like Christmas.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
We don't seem to have field trip problems. I've been turned down a time or two because they had enough. They did need someone for #1's class (after I was turned down for #2's class) so I went with his. It was always fun to meet up with my other son and exchange hugs while passing each other at an exhibit, etc.
Yikes. Next time volunteer to go THERE, stand in front of THEIR copier, use THEIR supplies and call it done! While saving yourself a bunch of time, of course.
The point of the volunteer system for LL's school is to cut costs and have someone other than teachers and administrators have to do task that just about anyone to do, it helps them be able to focus on what they should focus, the education of the kids.
But if LL's doing it, all other staff are freed up, no?
I think the big problem with not having enough volunteers around here is that there are a LOT of non English speaking parents.
And a LOT of people whose jobs won't afford them the luxury of volunteering.
Field trips were hard.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
