This week is going to feel different.

Not louder.
Not angrier.
But sharper.

I’ve seen three separate financial governance failures surface in one week. Different programs. Different states. Same structural fracture.

Before we unpack them, we need to set the tone.

This is not about attacking directors.
It’s not about shaming boosters.
It’s not about stirring drama.

It’s about raising the standard.

When money and authority intersect inside fine arts programs, governance boundaries must be clear. When they aren’t, pressure rolls downhill — and students absorb the impact.

Some of what we discuss this week may feel triggering if you’ve lived through fundraising coercion, liability confusion, or poorly handled program cuts. This is a safe place to process those issues — but it’s also a place where we won’t normalize preventable failures.

This week is about structure.

And when money gets messy, structure must get cleaner.

You can send your questions to [email protected]

Or, send me a text message to (913) 353-6141

Of course, you can also follow me and DM me on Facebook on my personal profile at Mike DeJohn or on the soundstage.edu facebook page.

We also have our own parent and booster group on Facebook called SoundstageEDU Parents and Boosters.

Come join us today!

• band booster governance

• public school fundraising rules

• nonprofit liability in schools

• director booster boundaries

• fine arts funding crisis

• fundraising ethics in public schools

• student program equity

• school booster structure