With the recent beautifying additions to Tesoro, some students have begun to question ASB’s funding processes. However, many students are ignorant of the truth when they speak out against the recent projects ASB has successfully completed for the school’s tenth anniversary. ASB Director Ms. Zendner assures the students that the signs at the top of the hill are a symbol of school pride, a “celebration of ten years of treasure.” Although students seem to be angered by the sudden completion of so many projects at Tesoro, like the new signs, the banners on Tesoro Creek Road, and the marquee above the ASB office, they do not seem to realize the work ASB put in to make it all happen.
ASB has dreamed of signs since the school’s opening in 2001 and have fundraised for three years. The money from the signs came from fundraising (like Bowl-a-thons), PTSA funding, and leftover funds from senior class packages; thus, the signs are a senior gift from classes of 2010 and 2011. Now that the signs are placed, ASB is focusing on adding irrigation and lighting to the top of the hill so they can plant trees and shrubs, hopefully masking the water district building that so ominously introduced our school in prior years. As for the signs on the light posts coming down the hill, other than the “Welcome” and “TesoroShop.com” signs, they were paid for by the clubs they advertise, not by ASB. And the new marquee was fundraised for by ASB representatives from classes of 2012 and 2013, through events like Baja Fresh night.
Some angry students are under the impression that the money we pay for dance tickets goes to activities and additions other than the dance. This is not true. As Chase Keller, ASB President, said, “ASB does not have some safe in the back of the room that we go to for all the things we want to do. We fundraise; we raise the money to do the things we think the school or the students will benefit from.” This year, Winter Formal dance tickets started at just $40. San Juan Hills High School, who had their Formal at the same location a week before to Tesoro’s, started with ticket prices $10 higher than Tesoro and their final prices topped $100. You can bet that Tesoro’s dances have better equipment and sound systems than a new school like San Juan Hills. Yet students complain about the high ticket prices for dances, while failing to realize for what they are actually paying. The money you pay for a dance ticket goes directly toward the cost of the venue, security for the night of the dance, the DJ company, lighting and sound systems rented for the dance, food and drinks. All of the money ASB raises from selling tickets goes directly to the dance. If there is a surplus from ticket sales for one dance, ASB either upgrades certain items (like this year, ASB ordered Cinnamon Productions for food for Formal) or they save the money for the next dance in hope of making that dance better than it has ever been before (or lowering ticket prices, which is often why Sadie’s tickets are so cheap). Never will your dance ticket money be used for beautification projects or new marquees. Ticket prices start low and are raised weekly in order to encourage students to purchase tickets early so ASB can know how much security to request. While some students are frustrated when tickets sell out, they do not realize that while ASB would love to find a venue that fit all students at Tesoro, like the Honda Center, the cost of such a large venue would be too large and would cause an extreme rise in ticket prices.
Everything ASB does is well planned; everything done is done for the improvement of the school, for the good of the students. So before you criticize ASB and their actions, Titans, you may want to get all the facts. ASB welcomes you to walk into the ASB office to address your concerns, or you can attend their weekly meetings on Wednesdays during third period where they discuss upcoming events and projects. And, Tesoro, let’s stay classy.
by Carly Bresee
16 Apr
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