OMS PTA offers a scholarship to graduating seniors of BH-BL that attended OMS during the middle school years. Information and application the are in the BH-BL high school guidance office. You may also contact the committee chair Sonja Olson 518-399-9510.
Per the NYS PTA .....
If a PTA gives scholarships to either students or teachers, certain procedures must be followed. The single most important issue is objectivity and equal access. The procedures determining how scholarship recipients are selected should be in writing. The opportunity to apply and receive a scholarship must be objective and open to all that meet the criteria established. The procedures should establish how the Scholarship Committee is selected (whether elected or appointed, how many people on the committee, etc.). No one should serve on the committee whose objectivity would be rendered questionable because of a relationship to an applicant. All of these requirements should be listed in the committee’s procedures.
The source of funds for scholarships may be, for example, an endowment fund for which the PTA solicits tax deductible contributions. Scholarships may be funded strictly from the current year earnings if this is the desire of the unit. A fund may take years to build to a sufficient level for current year earnings to fund scholarships. This is allowable as long as the PTA has a written plan of its intentions and follows this plan.
While it is not necessarily required it is advisable to keep funds designated for scholarship purposes in a separate account from general PTA funds. Donors need to be aware of the status of the plan before contributing. Guard against soliciting contributions “for scholarships” if scholarships will not be offered until the plan reaches a certain level, which could be three years away. Once that level is reached, scholarships must be awarded in compliance with the plan. PTAs cannot continue to solicit contributions and not grant scholarships with the current year earnings. A 1099 is not required for scholarships. Recipients should be made aware that, if any of the funds received are not used for school fees such as tuition, books or lab fees, that portion is taxable income. Any funds used for travel expense, babysitting or housing is taxable income. Beyond making the recipient aware of this issue, the PTA has no obligation.