[aisle] Scholastic Book Fair Fuel Surcharge Meeting

[Robin Jacob]

If anyone is looking for an alternative that supports a local business, we have used Anderson’s Bookshop for our book fair for a while. In addition to a great book fair, your school becomes eligible for free author visits once you schedule a book fair.

Mrs. Robin Jacob
(She, her, hers)
Rondout School Library Media Specialist
847-362-2021 ext. 605

Search the Catalog<https://rondoutfalcons1864.goalexandria.com/search>

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From: AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> On Behalf Of Ranftl, Kelly via AISLE
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2022 2:35 PM
To: AISLE-Share: Association of Illinois School Library Educators discussion list <aisle at list.railslibraries.info>; Group-10840-CPS Librarians <group-10840-cps_librarians at cps.edu>
Cc: Ranftl, Kelly <klranftl at cps.edu>
Subject: [aisle] Scholastic Book Fair Fuel Surcharge Meeting

Hi Fellow Librarians,
Scholastic Book Fairs lit an angry fire under me when they explained the fuel surcharge they are applying to book fairs. I did my research, replied (see below), and Scholastic Book Fairs Leadership is now asking me to have a phone meeting regarding my "strong feelings". If you also have "strong feelings" about the fuel surcharge or would like to share how it is impacting your school/students, please let me know. I would love to share your concerns with Scholastic leadership.
~Kelly Ranftl

My email to Scholastic:
Dear xxxxx,
Our problem is with the unjust practice of a BILLION dollar company essentially charging schools to run your fairs. Scholastic is NOT a mom & pop shop struggling with inflation. The fuel charge is about company bigwigs making more cash. I find it greedy and immoral for business owners to nickel and dime schools and children, especially when the company has had record-breaking earnings the previous year.  Scholastic is not in financial trouble, as the quotes below prove.

"Scholastic recorded significant revenue and operating income gains in both reporting periods, led by increased in-person book fairs and record revenue-per-fair levels in the U.S. book fairs channel, as well as strong demand for the Company's educational offerings."

"...Board of Directors also approved a 33% increase in its regular quarterly cash dividend to $0.20 per share from $0.15 per share on the Company's Class A and Common Stock for the first quarter of fiscal 2023."

Citation:
Scholastic Corporation. “Scholastic Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2022 Results Led by Record Revenue per Fair Levels and Strong Education Solutions Sales.” SCHOLASTIC REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL 2022 RESULTS LED BY RECORD REVENUE PER FAIR LEVELS AND STRONG EDUCATION SOLUTIONS SALES, 21 July 2022, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scholastic-reports-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-2022-results-led-by-record-revenue-per-fair-levels-and-strong-education-solutions-sales-301591281.html

Durkin Park has decided to go with a book fair company that has similar offerings, similar prices, better rewards structure, and most importantly, is not charging a fuel surcharge to ANY school as a cash grab. Feel free to forward my email to Sasha Quinton, President of Book Fairs, who made $1,697,980 in total compensation in 2022.
Source: https://www.salary.com/tools/executive-compensation-calculator/sasha-quinton-salary-bonus-stock-options-for-scholastic-corp?year=2022

I know I am not the only one canceling book fairs due to this cash grab. Librarians across multiple Facebook groups are livid, and many small-town and low-income school librarians are feeling this surcharge hit their book budgets. My hope is that if the people in charge realise what they are doing to schools is WRONG, a change will be made.

--
All the best,
Kelly Ranftl
Durkin Park Library Information Specialist
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
klranftl at cps.edu<mailto:klranftl at cps.edu>
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