Muddy Brook School Using Web Auction to Raise CashBy Nichole Dupont
iBerkshires Staff
04:21PM / Tuesday, April 12, 2011
 A button mosaic piece created by the chilren in Mrs. Topham's Kindergarten class is one of the items up for auction. Or you could win dinner for two at Castle Street Cafe.
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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The state is tightening its fiscal belt once again and many area schools are being forced to make cuts in what are deemed extracurricular activities.
Those dwindling budgets have inspired Kimberly Houston, president of the Muddy Brook Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association, to get creative — very creative.
Houston is spearheading the PTA's Spring Celebration Bid for Education online auction. With more than 200 items up for bid, she is confident that the auction will reach a wide audience and, hopefully, bring in much-needed funds for field trips, residency programs and ice cream socials.
"This is not the first online auction we've had, but it's certainly gotten the biggest response from the community," Houston said in a phone interview. "I sat down and brainstormed with the principal, trying to figure out ways to get people into the schools. We came up with this. The teachers were incredibly supportive all the way through. We're able to target such a broad audience and people don't have to come to the school. They can just point, click and bid. This is also a great opportunity for businesses to advertise and to reach a broader community."
Make no mistake, the Bid for Education inventory is far from run-of-the-mill finger paintings and potholders. In fact, many of the items up for bid are from area businesses including art classes donated by IS183, dinner for two at Castle Street Cafe (one among several local restaurants that have donated gift certificates), a 32-inch television from Tune Street and a family membership for the Berkshire Museum. With these items and several high-quality ceramic and art objects made by the pupils themselves (with the guidance of their teachers and area artists), Houston hopes to raise at least $12,000, although she is setting her sights higher based on the response already.
"If you're going to raise money for anything in the community, shouldn't it be the schools?" she said. "We've had people as late as Saturday calling up and wanting to donate to the auction. Right now we have just under $10,000 and I'm going to be optimistic. I want my younger daughter to experience the same things that her older sister had an opportunity to do. We're just waiting to see what happens."
Bidding closes on Thursday night but the auction doesn't stop there. Houston said the PTA will host and art showcase and talent show on Friday night, April 15, beginning at 6:30 at the school, bringing all of the art that was online to the school for further bidding.
"This kind of thing has tremendous capability," she said. "We're going to follow up with a small gallery walk with the items that the kids made and, of course, a dessert bar. All of this is in keeping with the school's philosophy — be kind, be responsible, work hard. That's what we're doing."
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