Frequently Asked Questions

About the Murch Home and School Association (HSA/PTA, Inc.) Support Our School Campaign 

Murch is a public school; I help pay for it through my taxes. Why does Murch’s HSA ask families to contribute more?

The Murch HSA asks for your support to supplement the resources available to our school. This year, the HSA will provide $199,500* for personnel, as well as teacher and program support beyond what is available through the District of Columbia Public Schools’ budget.

What does the SOS campaign pay for?

Salaries: it pays the salaries of 6 classroom aides, and 4 recess aides at a cost of $140,000. And educational support: teacher stipends and grants for such things as classroom materials, enrichment partnerships, a field trip fund, and the peer mediation and responsive classroom programs.

Why is this so important?

Murch’s families have determined that the level of support from Kis not enough to ensure a quality education for our children, so the HSA raises money to ensure that every pre-K and Kindergarten class has a full-time aide, and that there is at least one instructional aide for each grade level in grades 1-5. In addition, the HSA will employ four recess aides in order to provide adequate and consistent supervision of our children and allow the teachers to prepare for lessons and classroom activities.

My family can’t make a contribution right now. Can we contribute less than the requested amount, or can we contribute in other ways?

Yes! Please note that all donations are, of course, voluntary. The HSA welcomes donations at any level. It might be easier for you to donate in installments, for instance, and naturally we encourage grandparent donations and corporate matching gifts as well! You can also take this opportunity to join the HSA via your dues payment.

Is my gift tax-deductible and will I receive an acknowledgement?

Yes! All donations to the HSA are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. You will receive an email confirmation from the Murch HSA, which will serve as your tax receipt, unless you state a preference for receiving your tax receipt via U.S. mail. We no longer participate with the combined federal campaign.

I want to contribute now. How do I do it?

The easiest way to contribute is to donate online -- just click here. That's it!

What if I prefer to pay by check?

If you prefer to write a check, print out the donor form and fill it out, then drop it --and your check! -- in the mail or in the SOS box located next to the school library.

Thank you!

*The HSA budget is published annually in the Murch Directory and online at Murchschool.org. If you have any other questions about the SOS campaign or other HSA activities, please contact HSA co-presidents This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .