Is your elementary school PTA out of control?

[Anonymous]

Ok. I appreciate that the PTA organizes and plans fundraising events that our children (read: student body) love. This is a great way for parents to give their money to the school by paying for their children to participate in these various events and fundraisers. Thank you PTA for coordinating, volunteering and giving your time to organize these programs. And also for working with the administration and teachers to coordinate where this parent donated money is spent in order to best benefit the students of our school.

BUT...Our PTA is out of control. I have always wondered why parent after parent, who were the ones who "always volunteered", suddenly disappear and no longer help. Increasingly I hear story after story from parents insulted by this group and it is to the point where even the teachers are afraid to speak up because the venom spewed back at them is not worth it. They snarl at people, complain that they do "everything" then wonder why people stop helping. Huh, really?

I am appalled by their disrespectful and controlling behavior. I have personally witnessed them "yelling" at multiple parents and teachers for various things, they insist on any meetings regarding PTA programs (again lead by parents) with staff must be approved by them first (even if the administration solicits the meeting), I've heard them call teachers and parents liars, seen them try to replace volunteers with their "preferred" parent volunteers then get mad with the "preferred" parent volunteer when they say no, and, on and on...

This year our school is under construction, we have a new principle and vice principle and the PTA is overstepping the boundaries of the teachers and forcing PTA "rules" in their individual classrooms. I am sure the new administration will put an end to this but how bad will it have to get before they stop these control freaks? Many seem seem to forget the money they are organizing and spending is given by the parents and mostly parents volunteer to run the multitude of fundraising events throughout the year. So, the PTA needs to humble up and show some respect and appreciation to the parents and teachers of our school. You are the Parent Teachers Association, set forth to bridge the gap between parents and teachers (staff and administration), right.

This is nonsense in the midst of all the other FCPS and world issues. While extra money for our school is nice it is a mere pittance in the whole grand scheme and you all need to take a BIG step back and look at the big picture.

[Anonymous]

Sounds insane! What school is this?

[Anonymous]

Not at all. PTA involvement is low, but everyone is friendly and anyone is welcome to volunteer or chair whatever program they want.

[Anonymous]

Our PTA is good. Yeah, they do a lot of fundraisers, but they also do a few fun things -- wish there were more of those. But, they are not tyrants or prima donnas. They are just regular people who are giving to the school. I appreciate them.

[Anonymous]

If you had not posted in the VA public school forum, I would have thought you were talking about my child's MD elementary school!

I only clicked on the thread because I can relate, OP. There was a small rebellion on our PTA-run listserve at the start pf the year and as a result they backed down on a couple of issues. More importantly, they noticed that nobody actually likes them, and will probably tone it down for this year

[Anonymous]

We have a good PTA. It's easy to volunteer and there are no politics. Leader is down to earth. Have mixed feelings about the Boosterthon, but that's another post.

[Anonymous]

My childrens' school's PTA is fantastic - very active and offers a lot of services and activities for students, parents, and teacher. A few years back, from what I heard, it was a much more toxic environment. A few of the previous Presidents are still around, and boy one of them is just NUTS. I can understand why it was such an awful environment, and much of what you posted above sounds exactly like the complaints that were often made then.

Coincidental, perhaps, but my childrens' school is also undergoing construction and has a new principal and vice principal. Small world, sounds like the PTA's are light-years apart with their differences!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a good PTA. It's easy to volunteer and there are no politics. Leader is down to earth. Have mixed feelings about the Boosterthon, but that's another post.

+ 1.

I wonder if our kids attend the same school, PP?

[Anonymous]

I'm curious to find out what school???

[Anonymous]

PP here. The PTA seems to think that nothing in the school should run without their involvement. Don't get it. They didn't get away with it with the last principal and I am pretty sure the only reason they are now is due to the construction and new adminisration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. The PTA seems to think that nothing in the school should run without their involvement. Don't get it. They didn't get away with it with the last principal and I am pretty sure the only reason they are now is due to the construction and new adminisration.

Clermont?

[Anonymous]

Terra Centre?

[Anonymous]

Terra Centre?

[Anonymous]

PTA moms who base their whole lives around PTA are usually crazy.

[Anonymous]

How's having the PTA president responding to emails sent to the principal sound for out of control? Thank goodness that president's last child graduated. New PTA president couldn't be nicer or more grounded and is so much more collaborative. It can change, but I know a lot of damage can be done in the interim.