Hutto, Texas School Gets Creative With Fundraising

Like schools across the country, the Hutto, Texas School District is in trouble -- it's $4 million dollars over budget. To avoid making layoffs, the district needs new sources of revenue, and it's looking to an odd mascot for help -- the hippo.

As reported by AP, statues of the large herbivores adorn the town's fire station, mechanic shop and tanning salon. Soon, the hippo will also be a coveted logo on hats and t-shirts, raising millions for area schools -- at least, that's what the district's superintendent hopes.

"At first I thought that it was really kinda crazy," says parent Pete Thomsen, in reaction to the district's unique fundraising strategy. "But the more you start to hear about the alternatives to what they're gonna do without having additional sources of revenue, you start to understand that, boy, these guys are really trying hard."

WATCH:

To contribute to the Hutto Independent School District, please visit the Hutto Education Foundation.

Comments

[clayboggess]

08:00 AM on 04/04/2011

Who knows, the hippo could become the next fashion icon. They'd better trade-mark their idea. If people can make money off of the pet rock, anything is possible...

Clay Boggess
http://www.bigeventfundraising.com

[yahooserious]

10:24 AM on 03/27/2011

I drive through Hutto to get into Austin. Those concrete hippos are all over town. I love 'em.

[yesyesyes]

09:46 AM on 03/27/2011

Good on 'em, but if you feel the need to contribute look around your own county first.

[Queen4ever]

09:58 PM on 03/26/2011

I love this hippo in the tiny poka dot red bikini!

[hornedcog]

09:07 AM on 03/27/2011

Yes, Kirstie looks great!

[MikiCab]

09:48 PM on 03/26/2011

They have not cut taxes enough. If they could just cut taxes more there would be more than enough money for schools.

[ZDuck]

09:46 PM on 03/26/2011

I thought this was an attempt by those right winged wackos to cover up the hippo because she was nude.

[AbeMartin]

08:27 AM on 03/27/2011

Texas Congressman Louis Gohmert agrees.  He is considering drafting legislation, similar to that proposed in Florida, outlawing bestiality in the United States.  All of those animals wandering around unclothed is just too much of a temptation in certain districts.

[ruprect]

09:20 PM on 03/26/2011

I live in Hutto, and i can tell you that the observation by the parent regarding how much was spent on sports field upgrades far outweighs any money spent on books or computers or any educational initiatives.

On the whole, this is upsetting because education is the flag carried by every candidate for office and is the first thing cut once they get elected.

[AbeMartin]

08:28 AM on 03/27/2011

Yup.  Education may be the flag of candidates in Texas but their religion is high school football.

[jozie]

08:51 PM on 03/26/2011

They obviously haven't cut the richs' tax enough yet to fix this problem.

[susanthe]

08:26 PM on 03/26/2011

Cheez whiz - where are all those wealthy beneficiaries of tax cuts, dying to pick up the slack?

Oh, right. Republicans hate education. Preventing education creates more GOP voters.

[cjohnathan]

07:45 PM on 03/26/2011

...why not raise taxes on the Texas oil industries vast profit margin? that is one industry that can't reactively send their production (or jobs) "offshore"....

[yahooserious]

10:22 AM on 03/27/2011

They'll try

[samtee]

07:31 PM on 03/26/2011

The school district budget depends on the union and if they are willing go pay for something.

[eceresa]

09:25 AM on 03/27/2011

First, go back to school. Study grammar. Preferably from a union teachers, as statistically they tend to do a better job.

Second, study civics. This is Texas. No teachers' unions.

[greenskeeper]

07:04 PM on 03/26/2011

Maybe you didn't need to change your history books into to the fantasy books they are today.

I know what will fix this problem.....TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH!

[Bolkonsky]

06:08 PM on 03/26/2011

What's the old 70's bumper sticker say ... "It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need, and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber." Ha. How quaint.

[bella citta]

06:03 PM on 03/26/2011

Consider the poor hippopotamus:
His life is unduly monotonous.
He lives half asleep
At the edge of the deep,
And his face is as big as his bottom is.

[stape45]

10:02 AM on 03/27/2011

Cool!

[Davest]

05:48 PM on 03/26/2011

How many hundreds of millions of dollars did we spend the first 3 days of the Libyan crisis?

Why can't we spend money on our country?

Why aren't the Republicans doing something about Education? Oh that's right, they are, they are slashing education budgets to balance books sent out of whack by Republicans policies, wars and tax cuts.

THANKS GOP!!!!

Where are the JOBS????

[bcmom]

06:35 PM on 03/26/2011

Education, we do not need any of that education stuff. It is well over rated. Governor Good Hair was elected again and is determined to destroy the current educational system.

[cjohnathan]

07:49 PM on 03/26/2011

yes but college students will have the right to concealed carry (!)...