Arlington schools dues

[Anonymous]

At my elementary, dues and PTA are different.

Dues - parties (still happen, just no parents), teacher gifts, things for the classroom. These are collected by the “room mom” and benefit your class and the specials teachers your kid works with.

PTA - lunch/ snacks for teachers during parent conferences, school improvement like plants and murals, recognizing office and support staff, field trips or special events, school-wide programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It pays for outside benches for lunch, additional professional development for teachers not covered by APS, balls for recess, extra instruments that aren’t in the normal budget, appreciation lunches for teachers and staff, ice cream trucks to come to school celebrations, trips to the outdoor lab, books in other languages for English learning students, and on and on.

That should be PTA stuff, exepting the things like professional development for teachers, and classroom materials which are to be provided by APS - more importantly, to NOT be provided by PTA. The school itself should not be fundraising in addition to the PTA for these things. The principal needs to work within the budget APS affords them and take it up with APS if they NEED something more.

[Anonymous]

NP - Any thoughts on what the expected mount is for the classroom donation (aka dues, I guess)? We got a cryptic email from the room parent about this one-time donation for the year, but they said that they were not allowed to suggest an amount (but I could tell from the tone that they seemed to have some number in mind as they hinted at "how much you would spend for X, Y, Z things for Teachers A, B, and C"). This is at a N. Arlington elementary and it's our first year there, so I don't really have a good read on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP - Any thoughts on what the expected mount is for the classroom donation (aka dues, I guess)? We got a cryptic email from the room parent about this one-time donation for the year, but they said that they were not allowed to suggest an amount (but I could tell from the tone that they seemed to have some number in mind as they hinted at "how much you would spend for X, Y, Z things for Teachers A, B, and C"). This is at a N. Arlington elementary and it's our first year there, so I don't really have a good read on it.

I haven't encountered that but I'd give $20-50

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP - Any thoughts on what the expected mount is for the classroom donation (aka dues, I guess)? We got a cryptic email from the room parent about this one-time donation for the year, but they said that they were not allowed to suggest an amount (but I could tell from the tone that they seemed to have some number in mind as they hinted at "how much you would spend for X, Y, Z things for Teachers A, B, and C"). This is at a N. Arlington elementary and it's our first year there, so I don't really have a good read on it.

Our class fund contribution covers holiday and year-end gifts for the classroom teacher and one specials teacher, classroom parties, teacher appreciation week, and classroom wishlist items. We donate $100, but I have no idea how that compares to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, this doesn’t make any more sense than it did the last time you posted it. Who is sending you these dues requests? The PTA? The room parent? He principal? You need to post a coherent answer or we can’t do anything to help you.

Principal. It is not the pta.

How big is the ESOL budget at your school? Specials to help kids catch up? That’s where taxpayer dollars are going.

Tiny esol program. No need really. Specials are available for a fee with pta. PTA has plenty of money. Not sure why that money is not applied to classroom dues. Showed the dues notice to DH. He asked what are taxed for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Any thoughts on what the expected mount is for the classroom donation (aka dues, I guess)? We got a cryptic email from the room parent about this one-time donation for the year, but they said that they were not allowed to suggest an amount (but I could tell from the tone that they seemed to have some number in mind as they hinted at "how much you would spend for X, Y, Z things for Teachers A, B, and C"). This is at a N. Arlington elementary and it's our first year there, so I don't really have a good read on it.

Our class fund contribution covers holiday and year-end gifts for the classroom teacher and one specials teacher, classroom parties, teacher appreciation week, and classroom wishlist items. We donate $100, but I have no idea how that compares to others.

This is not a request to don’t. The public school calls it dues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP - Any thoughts on what the expected mount is for the classroom donation (aka dues, I guess)? We got a cryptic email from the room parent about this one-time donation for the year, but they said that they were not allowed to suggest an amount (but I could tell from the tone that they seemed to have some number in mind as they hinted at "how much you would spend for X, Y, Z things for Teachers A, B, and C"). This is at a N. Arlington elementary and it's our first year there, so I don't really have a good read on it.

Ours is sending slips saying dues $15.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Any thoughts on what the expected mount is for the classroom donation (aka dues, I guess)? We got a cryptic email from the room parent about this one-time donation for the year, but they said that they were not allowed to suggest an amount (but I could tell from the tone that they seemed to have some number in mind as they hinted at "how much you would spend for X, Y, Z things for Teachers A, B, and C"). This is at a N. Arlington elementary and it's our first year there, so I don't really have a good read on it.

I haven't encountered that but I'd give $20-50

Op here if the asked for a donation I would’ve given 35. I would assume there was one family that could not afford anything. But since it’s a mandatory fee I’m sorta POd

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, this doesn’t make any more sense than it did the last time you posted it. Who is sending you these dues requests? The PTA? The room parent? He principal? You need to post a coherent answer or we can’t do anything to help you.

Principal. It is not the pta.

How big is the ESOL budget at your school? Specials to help kids catch up? That’s where taxpayer dollars are going.

Tiny esol program. No need really. Specials are available for a fee with pta. PTA has plenty of money. Not sure why that money is not applied to classroom dues. Showed the dues notice to DH. He asked what are taxed for?

No one else has any clue what you are talking about here, and people from just about every north Arlington elementary school have probably seen this by now. Just name the school so people can help you figure it out. Your kid isn’t the only one who goes there so it’s not like you’re going to out yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It pays for outside benches for lunch, additional professional development for teachers not covered by APS, balls for recess, extra instruments that aren’t in the normal budget, appreciation lunches for teachers and staff, ice cream trucks to come to school celebrations, trips to the outdoor lab, books in other languages for English learning students, and on and on.

That should be PTA stuff, exepting the things like professional development for teachers, and classroom materials which are to be provided by APS - more importantly, to NOT be provided by PTA. The school itself should not be fundraising in addition to the PTA for these things. The principal needs to work within the budget APS affords them and take it up with APS if they NEED something more.

Pp here- I was listing things that the PTA “dues” pay for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Any thoughts on what the expected mount is for the classroom donation (aka dues, I guess)? We got a cryptic email from the room parent about this one-time donation for the year, but they said that they were not allowed to suggest an amount (but I could tell from the tone that they seemed to have some number in mind as they hinted at "how much you would spend for X, Y, Z things for Teachers A, B, and C"). This is at a N. Arlington elementary and it's our first year there, so I don't really have a good read on it.

I haven't encountered that but I'd give $20-50

I found that most parents are cheap. Having been a room parent myself, it’s amazing how many people donate five dollars per teacher. Really? Gift for your child’s teachers for the whole year is less than a Starbucks drink? There are always 2 to 3 very generous parents so an all even out. I understand that some families can’t afford much, but those are not the ones I’m referring to. Moms driving Range Rovers, donating five dollars. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Any thoughts on what the expected mount is for the classroom donation (aka dues, I guess)? We got a cryptic email from the room parent about this one-time donation for the year, but they said that they were not allowed to suggest an amount (but I could tell from the tone that they seemed to have some number in mind as they hinted at "how much you would spend for X, Y, Z things for Teachers A, B, and C"). This is at a N. Arlington elementary and it's our first year there, so I don't really have a good read on it.

I haven't encountered that but I'd give $20-50

I found that most parents are cheap. Having been a room parent myself, it’s amazing how many people donate five dollars per teacher. Really? Gift for your child’s teachers for the whole year is less than a Starbucks drink? There are always 2 to 3 very generous parents so an all even out. I understand that some families can’t afford much, but those are not the ones I’m referring to. Moms driving Range Rovers, donating five dollars. 🙄

What other profession expects their clients to all give them gifts each year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Any thoughts on what the expected mount is for the classroom donation (aka dues, I guess)? We got a cryptic email from the room parent about this one-time donation for the year, but they said that they were not allowed to suggest an amount (but I could tell from the tone that they seemed to have some number in mind as they hinted at "how much you would spend for X, Y, Z things for Teachers A, B, and C"). This is at a N. Arlington elementary and it's our first year there, so I don't really have a good read on it.

I haven't encountered that but I'd give $20-50

I found that most parents are cheap. Having been a room parent myself, it’s amazing how many people donate five dollars per teacher. Really? Gift for your child’s teachers for the whole year is less than a Starbucks drink? There are always 2 to 3 very generous parents so an all even out. I understand that some families can’t afford much, but those are not the ones I’m referring to. Moms driving Range Rovers, donating five dollars. 🙄

Yes, this. PP, I received a similar email last week and sent $75. When I’ve been a room parent doing a one-time collection, I’ve usually had about a 50-60% response rate from parents, so I send more than I would if I thought there would be a higher participation rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP - Any thoughts on what the expected mount is for the classroom donation (aka dues, I guess)? We got a cryptic email from the room parent about this one-time donation for the year, but they said that they were not allowed to suggest an amount (but I could tell from the tone that they seemed to have some number in mind as they hinted at "how much you would spend for X, Y, Z things for Teachers A, B, and C"). This is at a N. Arlington elementary and it's our first year there, so I don't really have a good read on it.

I haven't encountered that but I'd give $20-50

I found that most parents are cheap. Having been a room parent myself, it’s amazing how many people donate five dollars per teacher. Really? Gift for your child’s teachers for the whole year is less than a Starbucks drink? There are always 2 to 3 very generous parents so an all even out. I understand that some families can’t afford much, but those are not the ones I’m referring to. Moms driving Range Rovers, donating five dollars. 🙄

What other profession expects their clients to all give them gifts each year?

You aren’t the teacher’s client.