By D. Hanousek

Whether it's raffle tickets, silent auction items, gala tickets, or school carnivals, it seems that the San Francisco public school system runs on practically nothing but the blood, sweat, and the cash of parents' pocketbooks. I thought property taxes paid for education, but after contributing nearly $150 in cash and donations to friends' seemingly countless school fundraisers, I find myself wondering: How many raffle tickets does it actually take to run San Francisco public schools?

A stay-at-home mom friend of mine works her ass off, not only shuttling her sons back and forth from daycare and kindergarten and entertaining them before and after school, but also taking a lead role in both schools' fundraising efforts. It's more than a full-time job, and honestly, it scares the crap out of me. I'm not nearly as good as she is at soliciting time and cash from others. And while my kids are in daycare and preschool full-time, I still find myself exhausted at the end of the day, every day. Once my son is in kindergarten, how will I fit in this extra fundraising work? And, really, is it necessary?

According to my SFUSD pals and the $150 I gave them, yes, it is. If we want our children to receive enrichment programs (e.g., arts and sports) on top of the basic education, we must contribute. SFUSD’s a la carte educational services are just not enough.

Does your kid go to the Dianne Feinstein School, the 11th most requested school for kindergarten placement? Get excited for the Seeds of Success Auction (no kids allowed)! However, at Sunnyside Elementary, which did not make any most-requested list), the Springfest event is hoping to raise money for science and art programs... and reading specialists. Really. Reading specialists, who are vital to schools and it's practically criminal that they're not provided by the SFUSD as default, need a raffle? Fury-inducing.

What I'm realizing is that I need to get my act together in the next year or so to learn some fundraising skills. While my family is still determined to send our children to public schools rather than private, my husband and I often wonder if we afford either. I want to say that it's a shame how SF parents need to subsidize their children's education, but want I will say is that it's pathetic. The city and its focus on schools, or lack thereof, should be ashamed of itself.

In the meantime, I raise a glass to my fellow SF parents. You're amazing for putting up with this bullshit.

Follow me on Twitter @DHanousek