Post by title1parent on Jun 8, 2011 20:45:41 GMT -5
napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/schools/5605922-418/naperville-principal-duct-taped-to-wall-for-fundraiser-reward.html
Naperville principal duct-taped to wall for fundraiser reward
By Jane Donahue For The Sun Jun 2, 2011 7:46PM
Mike Raczak goes to great lengths for his students. And on Wednesday, the lengths left the principal of May Watts Elementary School in a sticky situation.
“I am being duct-taped to the wall by the kids,” said Raczak. “The kids will enjoy it, see me being silly. I think there will be a lot of laughing and smiling.”
Raczak, in his fourth year as principal at the Naperville elementary school, said the stunt was a reward for a spring fundraiser sponsored by the Parent Teacher Association. The school partnered with the Great American Opportunities company, and when representative Steve Wise suggested the stunt as an added incentive for students, Raczak agreed.
Well, not exactly.
“I wasn’t really approached about this,” Raczak joked. “I was in a meeting, and someone from the PTA said, ‘It’s OK that you get duct-taped, right?’ The kids were cheering and screaming, and at that time, I discovered I was going to get duct-taped.”
Students who sold more than seven items earned the chance to duct-tape the principal to the wall. The added incentive worked. The school sold nearly 900 items and generated $5,000 profit for the PTA.
PTA fundraising chairperson Karen Altekruse said the sale brought in twice the revenue they anticipated. The money will be used for a variety of educational items, including books for the school’s library and to fund events such as family science nights and a back-to-school social.
“It was wildly successful, and the kids loved it,” said Altekruse. “Mr. Raczak is great to do this.”
Fourth-grader Allison Leibfritz said the opportunity to duct-tape Raczak was part of the reason she wanted to sell items to her family and neighbors.
“He is really a nice principal,” said the 10-year-old. “I don’t think every principal would do this, but I knew Mr. Raczak would. It was really fun.”
Raczak continued to smile as more than 50 students took their turn with the tape. Being a good sport is nothing new for this principal, who has dressed up as Frosty the Snowman, a pirate and even has taken a pie in the face this year at May Watts.
“We have a great community here at May Watts, and everyone participates; the kids, parents, teachers and administrators are partners,” said Raczak. “If everyone gets a smile out of this, it will be great.”
But as he was attached to the wall, a question did arise. Who was going to take him down?
“There has been some discussion about that,” he laughed. “My wife is a teacher, and she knows I get myself into these situations. “I guess if I am not home by 8 p.m., she will come up (here). She’ll probably let me hang for a while.”