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Keith McCord reportingEast High School has become a popular tourist destination for fans of the Disney "High School Musical" films, both installments of the hit series were filmed there.
All that publicity has resulted in an unexpected, and much welcomed, financial windfall for the school.
Well, since fans who dropped by wanted a souvenir of some sort, the school decided to print up a bunch of "High School Musical" T-shirts, sweatshirts and pencils.
Those items were a big hit, and so far the school has sold more than $10,000 worth!
Now, teachers and students will get a piece of the proceeds. "We need more money so that we can buy books for people to learn how to read more," says Tabitha Jiba, the East High grant applicant.
It started out as a small idea. The East High School PTSA thought they might be able to sell a few T-shirts to raise some money for the school. Dr. Paul Sagers, East High School principal, says, "We sell them at the football games and basketball games. They're very good at volunteering they're time to set up tables and sell them. I think that they've managed it and been very entrepreneurial."
Turns out they seriously underestimated the popularity of the "High School Musical" movies. The East High T-shirts have brought in over $10,000 and sales are still booming. "The ones that look like "High School Musical," those are the ones that sell with the tourists, and we found our big market is probably kids between the ages of five and 13," says Sheri Swenson, PTSA president.
Once the success set in, the PTSA decided to use the T-shirt money to set up a fund that will allow students and teachers to apply for grant money to go toward their club or organizations.
Sagers says, "I just thought it was genius, as far as the twist, that they took it was very subtle but most grants are written by coaches, written by teachers, written by advisers."
Students and teachers interested in receiving some of the money must come up with an original proposal and fill out a Grant Money Application. Swenson said, "We're very grateful, and we hope to continue to take advantage of that while the taking's good."
Students and teachers will present their proposals to the PTSA on March 4.
The cast and crew of High School Musical will return to East High in April to film a third installment, and the PTSA will continue to sell the T-shirts until the demand slows down.
