For a number of years now, the parent-teacher organization at North Attleboro Middle School has opted out of the traditional fund-raisers like magazine, can dle and candy bar sales. Instead, they request a flat donation at the start of academic year.

`` I love that,'' said Rose Baker, a former school committee member who has been active with parent groups. `` I think par ents like the flat fee. I think more are doing it.''

And more are, according to some local parent group representatives. Still, many groups say they're not ready to cut out the sweets or extinguish the flame on those candle sales because they represent big bucks at a time when schools are increasingly strapped for funds.

As a result, many parent groups statewide and nationally are providing both options, says Tim Sullivan of PTO Today Inc., a parent group leadership organization based in Wrentham.

They're commonly coming up with a `` hybrid solution'' that involves putting space on fund-raising forms that allows parents and others to make a flat fee donation instead of selling items in fundraisers, he said. `Nothing in returnrquote

Parent organizations that have chosen to go solely with flat donations usually return to traditional fund-raising means in some form, he said.

`` In the first year, they do well,'' Sulli van said. `` People remember the reason they didn't like traditional fund-raising. Then, in the second and third year, it's not near and dear to you anymore -- you're getting nothing in return,'' he said.

Communities where families have more discretionary funds tend to have more flat-rate donations, Sullivan said.

`` The groups make money off the direct donation, but even given that, there are those core groups of parents who will sell 20 rolls of wrapping paper,'' he said. `` And at the end of the day, they make more of a profit.''

Eileen Miller, a member of Attleboro's Brennan Middle School parent organiza tion, said that while there are people who give flat donations, `` it's not more than those participating in the fund-raisers.''

She said changing the offerings -- they've moved away from candy sales over the past couple of years and have tried different items like coupon-books for local eateries and other businesses -- has proved successful.

Miller said the traditional fund-raisers, which are the major money-makers, are necessary to keep up with rising costs of enrichment programs, including field trips, which this year went up because of higher transportation costs.

Brennan parents try to `` build on the budget a bit each year,'' she said, to cover increased costs and to subsidize various school items -- whether it be weekly read ers used in the classrooms or a poster for each classroom of a rubric for the MCAS, as requested last year.

Holding the traditional fund-raisers also allows those unable to pay a flat fee the opportunity to participate, she and others said. Yet there's something to be said for just being able to write a check.

`` My son went on a field trip which cost $30,'' said Baker. `` I'd rather pay that than sell candy bars.''

`` I often write a check,'' said Nancy Collins, a member of the parent organization at Brennan.

The option is also popular among her friends who work full-time and have little time to sell items. Selling door-to-door is prohibited for young children in school districts, something that parents seem to agree is a good thing.

Other factors driving the trend toward flat donations include the reluctance of parents to hit up co-workers during fund-raising drives; an aversion to items in the fund-raising catalogues, like wrapping paper, which some say they can get cheaper at local stores; and a glut of typical fund-raising items. People have enough candles after a couple of years, thank you very much. And how many candy bars can one eat? Who has time to read all those magazines? And if you buy an item for someone else, what's to say they want it?

`` You know it's part of being a parent and supporting the school,'' said Cindy Curran, who just concluded four years as president of the Taylor Elementary School in Foxboro and is now a member of the parent advisory committee at the Ahern Middle School. `` And as members of the PTO, you try to encourage people to buy whatever you're selling. But then I look at my parents who don't need magazines or cookie dough or wrapping paper.''

Plus, if the organization is only making 20 to 40 percent on the fund-raiser items sold, it can take the sales of more items to raise the equivalent of just a flat donation, Curran said.

`` So, you can't discourage people from flat donations,'' she said. `` I know a lot of families give a flat donation.''

Still, Curran participates in the traditional school fund-raisers, like the recent magazine sales at Ahern where her two daughters attend, and hits up her family for those and other fund-raisers.

`` Unfortunately -- or fortunately -- my whole family lives in Foxboro, so the only other people I can ask is brothers and sisters,'' Curran said.

So she not only has to buy from her children, but nieces and nephews. And it's reciprocal. Fund-raisers, not just school, but for sports and other clubs, hit at the same time with the start of the school year, she noted.

`` We all sit around a table and literally keep passing the fund-raising forms around,'' Curran said. `` You know, `I bought from your child, you buy from mine.rquote

`` I think parents are going to start saying, can we cut back on a few field trips? Where does it end? No one wants to be the first to step forward and say they can't afford it.''

She suggested that fund-raisers may need to get more creative.

`` What happened to the good old bake sale or car wash? On the flip side, when you have an operating budget close to $30,000, you need to have big fund-raisers,'' she said. `` You do what you can do.''

Sullivan said he always encourages parent organizations to `` pick one or two fund-raisers to make money and make them great, and then the rest of the year focus on staff appreciation, playground building or field trips.''

He said that makes more sense than raising too little and having to have 10 fund-raisers, `` which is almost like fund-raising all year long.''

Sullivan said overall, parent group fund-raising has remained stable, even as the responsibilities those groups have undertaken have broadened and costs have risen.

He said parents see needs in their schools `` and they are saying I don't want my kids to go without.''

Michelle Peterson, co-chairwoman of Norton's Solmonese Elementary School, said that's what people need to realize when they see those fund-raising catalogues and other items.

`` It does get overwhelming, especially at certain times of the year,'' she acknowledged. `` But if you walked through the schools and saw what your money was doing,'' it would help people to better understand the need for fund-raisers, she said.

Peterson said Norton schools are fortunate in that youth sports groups in the community don't do the types of fund-raisers school parent groups do, meaning there's less competition.

She said the Nourse Elementary School parent group's first campaign is to have parents write a donation check. At the middle school, magazine and candle sales are conducted and at the Yelle Elementary School of fourth and fifth-graders, the items of choice are candles and candy bars. Peterson's group sells Reader's Digest books and wrapping paper, and while they do receive donations with a letter saying that particular families do not want to participate in the fund-raiser, many more people seem to like purchasing items.

The proceeds, which Peterson said average about 50 percent of the sales, cover the costs of performances, two field trips for each class, playground maintenance, helping families in crises, and teacher wish lists that usually include supplies like glue sticks, paper and pens.

There is always the challenge of coming up with new ideas to raise money, say parent groups. But while the methods differ, the goal is the same.

`` You try so hard to let people know it's necessary to just participate once and it's over,'' said Patti McTernan, former president of the North Attleboro Middle School parent group and, before that, an active member of the Martin Elementary School PTO for 15 years.

`` People don't realize what their kids would be without at the schools if we don't raise the money,'' the mother of five said.

Sullivan, of PTO Today, said it's that message that many parent groups need to emphasize and that sometimes gets lost in the flurry of fund-raising.

SUSAN LaHOUD can be reached at 508-236-0398 or slahoud(at)(at)thesunchronicle.com.