PTA and Parent Association fees -- poll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tides are changing- prediction: dues don't stand.

I think the dues amount could change. But the difference here is that it's not technically a PTA anymore. A completely separate non-profit can make its own rules. I think if you don't want to join, then you just don't join - it's not like you don't get to go to the school. But, why be a separate organization if you don't get to make your own rules, right?

[Anonymous]

They are a completely separate non profit if they get approval from the IRS, but that's no different than the Lafayette HSA.

If they are going to meet in YY's building and use YY's resources (email lists, copying, place flyers in student backpacks, etc...) they aren't "completely" separate.

The fact that this school needs it's own nonprofit for the Parents speaks to how dysfunctional the place is. All the other charters manage to do this without forming another nonprofit.

[Anonymous]

Some charters, such as Two Rivers and Capital City don't even have PAs. Two Rivers is just forming theirs (8? years after the school started). I think speaks highly of the school that they had a PA from the get go. It shows that they did not shirk from allowing the parents to participate and even voice opinions. That there is so much discussion about this issue is not such a bad thing. This is a parent issue, not the school telling parents what to do.

[Anonymous]

How are other charters like Two Rivers and Cap City with fund raising even without a PA? Yu Ying parents overall seem crazy, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are a completely separate non profit if they get approval from the IRS, but that's no different than the Lafayette HSA.

If they are going to meet in YY's building and use YY's resources (email lists, copying, place flyers in student backpacks, etc...) they aren't "completely" separate.

The fact that this school needs it's own nonprofit for the Parents speaks to how dysfunctional the place is. All the other charters manage to do this without forming another nonprofit.

The nearby private Catholic school allows them to use their theater and track and playground. Two completely separate non-profits working together. This does not contradict the law around what non-profits may do.

As for "all the other charters"? Yu Ying isn't like all the other schools. There are a lot of highly-educated and independent-minded YY parents with a strong desire for control over the funds they raise. Most similar type As prefer the same, but few of them can because they don't have the necessary skills. Good for YY for pulling it off, at such an early stage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are other charters like Two Rivers and Cap City with fund raising even without a PA? Yu Ying parents overall seem crazy, IMO.

I'm curious if you know any personally? I ask because the only place I see the craziness is Here, on DCUM. The other fellow parents I know in person seem normal. When we are in a wierd parallel universe of DCUM, I'd agree, but out of the 300+ families at the school, the craziness quotient seems pretty low (5-10%?) Maybe at YY we are lucky because our crazy parents like to post on anonymous message boards more than parents at other schools? If they as a group keep this as their outlet and keep it normal at school, then I am thankful for the outlet DCUM provides!

Disaffected YY parents--keep it wierd on DCUM!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are a completely separate non profit if they get approval from the IRS, but that's no different than the Lafayette HSA.

If they are going to meet in YY's building and use YY's resources (email lists, copying, place flyers in student backpacks, etc...) they aren't "completely" separate.

The fact that this school needs it's own nonprofit for the Parents speaks to how dysfunctional the place is. All the other charters manage to do this without forming another nonprofit.

How is it dysfunctional? YY parents want control over the money they raise to support the school. Its pretty simple. With all the financial mismangement of PAs, PTAs, in both DCPS and at other charter schools with poor financial controls, I think it is a smart move.

Read the paper and look at all the examples of stealing at both DCPS and charter schools. Money stolen in grants, money stolen from school fundraising, school leaders or staff stealing, etc. Setting up a school PA with strong financial controls that can work and assist the school while earmarking things that are important to parents like trips to China, or a library,etc., is great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are other charters like Two Rivers and Cap City with fund raising even without a PA? Yu Ying parents overall seem crazy, IMO.

I'm curious if you know any personally? I ask because the only place I see the craziness is Here, on DCUM. The other fellow parents I know in person seem normal. When we are in a wierd parallel universe of DCUM, I'd agree, but out of the 300+ families at the school, the craziness quotient seems pretty low (5-10%?) Maybe at YY we are lucky because our crazy parents like to post on anonymous message boards more than parents at other schools? If they as a group keep this as their outlet and keep it normal at school, then I am thankful for the outlet DCUM provides!

Disaffected YY parents--keep it wierd on DCUM!

Not personally, no, but I have a relative who lives in the apt complex next door to the school who leaves for work 20 minutes earlier than before they were there. Not exactly loved in the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

I think there is a lot of "sock pupeting" or something akin to that with it comes to YY on this Board. I think people pose as YY parents and say slightly crazy things to make the school look bad.

There may be a few YY parents who say wacky things, but the vitriol displayed on DCUM would make a lot of schools look bad if it the same stuff were aimed at them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are other charters like Two Rivers and Cap City with fund raising even without a PA? Yu Ying parents overall seem crazy, IMO.

I'm curious if you know any personally? I ask because the only place I see the craziness is Here, on DCUM. The other fellow parents I know in person seem normal. When we are in a wierd parallel universe of DCUM, I'd agree, but out of the 300+ families at the school, the craziness quotient seems pretty low (5-10%?) Maybe at YY we are lucky because our crazy parents like to post on anonymous message boards more than parents at other schools? If they as a group keep this as their outlet and keep it normal at school, then I am thankful for the outlet DCUM provides!

Disaffected YY parents--keep it wierd on DCUM!

Not personally, no, but I have a relative who lives in the apt complex next door to the school who leaves for work 20 minutes earlier than before they were there. Not exactly loved in the neighborhood.

C'mon, every neighbor hates the additional traffic that comes with every new charter school -- that's hardly unique to YY. (Neighbors had the cops out at ELH's Kansas campus shortly after it opened last year -- it was ridiculous.) And I can't believe the extra traffic means anything like an extra 20 minutes -- that's just a drama queen puffing her story.

[Anonymous]

ITA. Look at AppleTree on Capitol Hill. The neighbors fought a legal battle to stop construction and now have hung signs on their front lawns expressing their displeasure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: But the difference here is that it's not technically a PTA anymore. A completely separate non-profit can make its own rules. I think if you don't want to join, then you just don't join - it's not like you don't get to go to the school.

It is very common for a parent teacher organization to be a separate 501c3 -- for starters so people can deduct their donations to it on their taxes. Charters are already a nonprofit, so it's perhaps a little less essential, but if you are raising funds etc for a regular public school, then donations to the school wouldn't be tax deductible without an organization (by whatever name) with 501c3 status. See here:

http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/394-501c3-for-ptos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are other charters like Two Rivers and Cap City with fund raising even without a PA? Yu Ying parents overall seem crazy, IMO.

I'm curious if you know any personally? I ask because the only place I see the craziness is Here, on DCUM. The other fellow parents I know in person seem normal. When we are in a wierd parallel universe of DCUM, I'd agree, but out of the 300+ families at the school, the craziness quotient seems pretty low (5-10%?) Maybe at YY we are lucky because our crazy parents like to post on anonymous message boards more than parents at other schools? If they as a group keep this as their outlet and keep it normal at school, then I am thankful for the outlet DCUM provides!

Disaffected YY parents--keep it wierd on DCUM!

Not personally, no, but I have a relative who lives in the apt complex next door to the school who leaves for work 20 minutes earlier than before they were there. Not exactly loved in the neighborhood.

C'mon, every neighbor hates the additional traffic that comes with every new charter school -- that's hardly unique to YY. (Neighbors had the cops out at ELH's Kansas campus shortly after it opened last year -- it was ridiculous.) And I can't believe the extra traffic means anything like an extra 20 minutes -- that's just a drama queen puffing her story.

If someone used to leave at 8:15, may chose to leave at 7:55 to just be out of the area before the congestion begins. Probably takes an extra couple of light cycles if you leave during the busiest drop off time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Not personally, no, but I have a relative who lives in the apt complex next door to the school who leaves for work 20 minutes earlier than before they were there. Not exactly loved in the neighborhood.

C'mon, every neighbor hates the additional traffic that comes with every new charter school -- that's hardly unique to YY. (Neighbors had the cops out at ELH's Kansas campus shortly after it opened last year -- it was ridiculous.) And I can't believe the extra traffic means anything like an extra 20 minutes -- that's just a drama queen puffing her story.

If someone used to leave at 8:15, may chose to leave at 7:55 to just be out of the area before the congestion begins. Probably takes an extra couple of light cycles if you leave during the busiest drop off time.

See this thread for a discussion of the statement: Charter schools have zero direct benefit to their immediate neighborhood: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/199670.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Not personally, no, but I have a relative who lives in the apt complex next door to the school who leaves for work 20 minutes earlier than before they were there. Not exactly loved in the neighborhood.

C'mon, every neighbor hates the additional traffic that comes with every new charter school -- that's hardly unique to YY. (Neighbors had the cops out at ELH's Kansas campus shortly after it opened last year -- it was ridiculous.) And I can't believe the extra traffic means anything like an extra 20 minutes -- that's just a drama queen puffing her story.

If someone used to leave at 8:15, may chose to leave at 7:55 to just be out of the area before the congestion begins. Probably takes an extra couple of light cycles if you leave during the busiest drop off time.

See this thread for a discussion of the statement: Charter schools have zero direct benefit to their immediate neighborhood: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/199670.page

Couldn't disagree more with this assertion. We live in Southwest and Appletree runs a great program there with many neighborhood families enrolled. If it wasn't for Appletree then many of these families would likely leave the neighborhood or DC altogether. Appletree's presence creates a sense of community that benefits families beyond those who are enrolled. And Appletree's presence encourages parents to enroll in Amidon, providing that struggling school with a (small) cohort of well prepared Kindergartners.