POULSBO — On April 17, a CBS “60 Minutes” broadcast raised questions about the authenticity of Greg Mortenson and the Central Asia Institute’s work, popularized in his book, “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to  Promote Peace … One School at a Time.”

Now, with questions of their own, students at Vinland Elementary School have begun to assess the allegations in hopes of finding answers. And those answers could alter students’ efforts to raise money for Mortenson’s cause.

Vinland librarian DebbieJo Rock met with each classroom April 19 and 20 to help them understand the situation and hear their feedback.

“It made me feel really cheated,” fifth-grader Kaylee Wallace said of the allegations. “I’ve donated a lot of money over the years.”

Like other students at Vinland, Kaylee began making donations during her first year at the school. In the past three years, Vinland students and the PTSA raised more than $8,000 for the Central Asia Institute.

“I just feel confused, because I don’t know if he’s lying to us or not,” fifth-grader Abbey Singer said. “We hope (Mortenson) does the right thing.”

After the “60 Minutes” episode questioned the authenticity of work reported in “Three Cups of Tea,” Vinland principal Charles McCabe suspended a fundraiser. Breidablik Elementary also suspended its fundraiser and Gordon Elementary changed its benefiting charity to “Quarters for the Quake,” an American Red Cross Japan relief fund.

On April 20, the money raised through “Pennies for Peace” was counted and will soon be sent to the American Red Cross, Gordon principal Claudia Alves said.

“We knew that half (of the money) was going to Japan anyway so we’re just going to push the other half over,” Alves said.

In addition to raising questions about the best-selling book, “60 Minutes” questioned the financial management of the institute and how many schools have actually been built.

At Vinland, the goal was to raise $10,000 for the institute.

Rock compiled student questions and sent them to the institute.

The director told Rock a response to students is being written, but no official response had been received by press time.

Rock said the situation has been very confusing and disillusioning for students.

Rock has turned the situation into a learning experience. Having the students ask questions and discuss what information they heard from different sources, she said she hopes to build the students’ skills in perception and critical thinking. She does not want students to jump to conclusions without knowing all the facts.

“We want our kids to think for themselves,” she said.

The decision to suspend the fundraiser did not come easily. The school has donated to “Pennies for Peace” for about four years. This year, every student in the school received a “young student” version of “Three Cups of Tea.” McCabe said the fundraising committee was torn about what to do following the allegations.

Within the first week of the fundraising drive, the school raised $905 and at least two classrooms were reading sections of “Three Cups of Tea” as a class.

By the end of the school year, McCabe said a decision will be made regarding continuing the “Pennies for Peace” fundraiser or finding another cause.

Fifth-grader Abby Swaim  hopes the allegations are false.

“I hope he isn’t lying,” she said. “But if he is, he deserves what he gets, I guess.”