Powell PTA theft and other DCPS schools with large PTA budgets.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how PTA funds are audited and regulated? My daughter goes to a ward 3 school and they have many fundraisers but the teachers never seem to have everything they need. I’d the use of the funds up to the principals discretion? PTA?

I just wonder if it’s worth donating to the larger cause or specific classrooms. I fear misuse of funds.

[Anonymous]

So we're on our way out but I'd say - if a teacher has a specific request or a gofundme, go for that. The PTO can of course organize around things bigger than one classroom that you may wish to contribute to.

That said - a PTO can be robbed, a teacher can ask for funds for a rug and buy coffee with the money. Macro, micro, bad actors exist.

[Anonymous]

Buy directly for your teachers.

[Anonymous]

Are PTOs supposed to share their annual budget openly with the parents on the mailing list or is it something restricted to the folks who attend the meetings?

[Anonymous]

If they are big enough they have to file a Form 990 with the IRS, and that's public.

They should also have insurance and bonding against theft.

[Anonymous]

Every parent organization for DCPS is its own 501c3 nonprofit and is supposed to file annual reports of revenue/balances to the IRS, but usually it's too low of a number to require detailed reports. The school administration is only involved in those decisions if the board includes them. If you are donating and want to make sure the funds are used for the purposes you want, you should participate. If you're on the mailing list and want to know, you should ask.

Also, Powell PTO has a large budget relative to some other schools but it's nothing compared to most Ward 3 PTOs.

[Anonymous]

I believe the PTA pays a teachers salary and the principal said it ensures equity for field trips. As a parent it’s good to know the 990 is public. It seems as though the use of the funds is up to the principal with limited guidance for use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they are big enough they have to file a Form 990 with the IRS, and that's public.

They should also have insurance and bonding against theft.

+1 and ours (many moons ago) also had annual audits by an independent accounting firm. The budget was posted on the HSA website. Basically, the parents involved have professional lives and reputations, so they weren't going to risk that for an HSA; thus everything was by the book and transparent.

[Anonymous]

How much do these other ward 3 ptos raise? I think some capital hill schools raise between 125 and 200k+ at their annual auctions, not including fall drives. I’m interested in how they compare to other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they are big enough they have to file a Form 990 with the IRS, and that's public.

They should also have insurance and bonding against theft.

+1 and ours (many moons ago) also had annual audits by an independent accounting firm. The budget was posted on the HSA website. Basically, the parents involved have professional lives and reputations, so they weren't going to risk that for an HSA; thus everything was by the book and transparent.

Except for that one hiccup with the (former) USAid contractor in charge of compliance and monitoring.

[Anonymous]

First, be involved in the PTA/PTO. You don't have to volunteer for a position, but at least show up to some meetings.

Second, the scenarios in which someone does something like the Powell or Lafayette women did are far and few between. The vast, vast majority of PTA people want to do, and do, a good job to make the school better; that's why they volunteer. Just make sure your PTA is reasonably transparent and has financial controls in place. You probably should have more trust that the PTA is spending the money carefully than an individual teacher. You are thinking -- but I know the teacher. Well, yes, you know them in their role as a teacher. That doesn't mean they are good financial managers, and they are equally as likely or unlikely to be dishonest with funds as a random PTA person.

Third, PTAs have bylaws and processes and work as a group. They coordinate with the school admin to make decisions about what money gets spent on, so they are making choices with knowledge of the competing needs. It feels useful to buy books for your kid's classroom. Do you know how many books that classroom has or if others are donating books to it? Do you know the need for books in the classroom your other child is in, or the classroom with the brand new teacher? What if the school's priority needs are copy paper and kleenex, and the PTA desperately needs money for that, but you are buying excess books? What if it's a lot more cheaper for the PTA to buy certain supplies--the copy paper or whatever--in bulk rather than for individual teachers to go buy it from CVS with GoFundMe money?

Finally, pull your weight. All that good stuff that the PTA does for your kids -- supporting field trips or buying snacks for the honor roll celebration or paying the entry fee for the spelling bee -- someone is paying for it. Contribute what you can rather than being a free rider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, be involved in the PTA/PTO. You don't have to volunteer for a position, but at least show up to some meetings.

Second, the scenarios in which someone does something like the Powell or Lafayette women did are far and few between. The vast, vast majority of PTA people want to do, and do, a good job to make the school better; that's why they volunteer. Just make sure your PTA is reasonably transparent and has financial controls in place. You probably should have more trust that the PTA is spending the money carefully than an individual teacher. You are thinking -- but I know the teacher. Well, yes, you know them in their role as a teacher. That doesn't mean they are good financial managers, and they are equally as likely or unlikely to be dishonest with funds as a random PTA person.

Third, PTAs have bylaws and processes and work as a group. They coordinate with the school admin to make decisions about what money gets spent on, so they are making choices with knowledge of the competing needs. It feels useful to buy books for your kid's classroom. Do you know how many books that classroom has or if others are donating books to it? Do you know the need for books in the classroom your other child is in, or the classroom with the brand new teacher? What if the school's priority needs are copy paper and kleenex, and the PTA desperately needs money for that, but you are buying excess books? What if it's a lot more cheaper for the PTA to buy certain supplies--the copy paper or whatever--in bulk rather than for individual teachers to go buy it from CVS with GoFundMe money?

Finally, pull your weight. All that good stuff that the PTA does for your kids -- supporting field trips or buying snacks for the honor roll celebration or paying the entry fee for the spelling bee -- someone is paying for it. Contribute what you can rather than being a free rider.

Not OP but: NO.

I do not feel our PTA spends its money on the right things, and I'm tired of being asked for money. It is mostly pointless make work that PTA people dislocate their shoulders patting themselves on the back for but which kids and parents don't want or need. Sorry not sorry.

My kid shows up to school on time, with a great attitude and prepared for class. We get our paperwork in on time and respond to requests from the teacher or administration for donations or support when needed for school events and programs. We volunteer to chaperone field trips and volunteer as class parents and help with class parties. But I don't eff with the PTA anymore. I think it's a waste and time and energy and a distraction from the actual work of the school. That doesn't make me a "free rider."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, be involved in the PTA/PTO. You don't have to volunteer for a position, but at least show up to some meetings.

Second, the scenarios in which someone does something like the Powell or Lafayette women did are far and few between. The vast, vast majority of PTA people want to do, and do, a good job to make the school better; that's why they volunteer. Just make sure your PTA is reasonably transparent and has financial controls in place. You probably should have more trust that the PTA is spending the money carefully than an individual teacher. You are thinking -- but I know the teacher. Well, yes, you know them in their role as a teacher. That doesn't mean they are good financial managers, and they are equally as likely or unlikely to be dishonest with funds as a random PTA person.

Third, PTAs have bylaws and processes and work as a group. They coordinate with the school admin to make decisions about what money gets spent on, so they are making choices with knowledge of the competing needs. It feels useful to buy books for your kid's classroom. Do you know how many books that classroom has or if others are donating books to it? Do you know the need for books in the classroom your other child is in, or the classroom with the brand new teacher? What if the school's priority needs are copy paper and kleenex, and the PTA desperately needs money for that, but you are buying excess books? What if it's a lot more cheaper for the PTA to buy certain supplies--the copy paper or whatever--in bulk rather than for individual teachers to go buy it from CVS with GoFundMe money?

Finally, pull your weight. All that good stuff that the PTA does for your kids -- supporting field trips or buying snacks for the honor roll celebration or paying the entry fee for the spelling bee -- someone is paying for it. Contribute what you can rather than being a free rider.

Not OP but: NO.

I do not feel our PTA spends its money on the right things, and I'm tired of being asked for money. It is mostly pointless make work that PTA people dislocate their shoulders patting themselves on the back for but which kids and parents don't want or need. Sorry not sorry.

My kid shows up to school on time, with a great attitude and prepared for class. We get our paperwork in on time and respond to requests from the teacher or administration for donations or support when needed for school events and programs. We volunteer to chaperone field trips and volunteer as class parents and help with class parties. But I don't eff with the PTA anymore. I think it's a waste and time and energy and a distraction from the actual work of the school. That doesn't make me a "free rider."

It's great that you support the school in a bunch of ways.

What are the things that your PTA spends money on that kids and parents don't want?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, be involved in the PTA/PTO. You don't have to volunteer for a position, but at least show up to some meetings.

Second, the scenarios in which someone does something like the Powell or Lafayette women did are far and few between. The vast, vast majority of PTA people want to do, and do, a good job to make the school better; that's why they volunteer. Just make sure your PTA is reasonably transparent and has financial controls in place. You probably should have more trust that the PTA is spending the money carefully than an individual teacher. You are thinking -- but I know the teacher. Well, yes, you know them in their role as a teacher. That doesn't mean they are good financial managers, and they are equally as likely or unlikely to be dishonest with funds as a random PTA person.

Third, PTAs have bylaws and processes and work as a group. They coordinate with the school admin to make decisions about what money gets spent on, so they are making choices with knowledge of the competing needs. It feels useful to buy books for your kid's classroom. Do you know how many books that classroom has or if others are donating books to it? Do you know the need for books in the classroom your other child is in, or the classroom with the brand new teacher? What if the school's priority needs are copy paper and kleenex, and the PTA desperately needs money for that, but you are buying excess books? What if it's a lot more cheaper for the PTA to buy certain supplies--the copy paper or whatever--in bulk rather than for individual teachers to go buy it from CVS with GoFundMe money?

Finally, pull your weight. All that good stuff that the PTA does for your kids -- supporting field trips or buying snacks for the honor roll celebration or paying the entry fee for the spelling bee -- someone is paying for it. Contribute what you can rather than being a free rider.

Not OP but: NO.

I do not feel our PTA spends its money on the right things, and I'm tired of being asked for money. It is mostly pointless make work that PTA people dislocate their shoulders patting themselves on the back for but which kids and parents don't want or need. Sorry not sorry.

My kid shows up to school on time, with a great attitude and prepared for class. We get our paperwork in on time and respond to requests from the teacher or administration for donations or support when needed for school events and programs. We volunteer to chaperone field trips and volunteer as class parents and help with class parties. But I don't eff with the PTA anymore. I think it's a waste and time and energy and a distraction from the actual work of the school. That doesn't make me a "free rider."

It's great that you support the school in a bunch of ways.

What are the things that your PTA spends money on that kids and parents don't want?

Not PP but they buy ed tech programs that are useless or worse. If I remember right ST Math at Lafayette was PTA funded. They spend a ton on teacher appreciation week when there are cheaper, more meaningful ways to show appreciation. Those are just two I remember.

[Anonymous]

Lafayette PTA treasure also stole funds