TJHSST PTSA Election

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um - yes the new TJ Board has - they voted out their President ....

So you think that voting out a duly-elected president for alleged bad behavior is now cause for hand-wringing and pearl-clutching? Your hypocrisy is truly unending.

[Anonymous]

I'd be curious to know how many people pontificating about the TJ PTA's actions and behaviors (both individual members and Exec Com) have read the By Laws? https://tjptsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TJHSST-PTSA-2019-Bylaws.pdf. Yes, there's a lot of standard, flowering language in the document; however, there are some pretty clear statements about the purpose of the organization as well as it's legal relationship to the VA and National PTA entities. Moreover, the by laws do outline very clear expectations with respect to behavior of leadership and the entire charter in relation to the VA PTA. You can also cluck and bristle about whether there should be a TJPTA or if they should move to a PTO. Whatever decision is made, the current TJPTA does have a legal obligation to operate within the confines of the by laws.

Most notable for me in the by laws was the following:

"The association shall work to engage and empower children, families, and educators within schools and communities to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process by influencing school policy and advocating for children's issues, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities."

Seems to me, recent efforts to call in the legality of the counties authority to change the admissions process falls well outside what the TJPTA's purview. They can have an opinion and share that opinion, even advocate for a different approach but they are not the decision makers and are bound by decision vested with the recognized legal authorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VA PTA is playing dirty politics. The new board for TJ just got elected. They have not done anything yet.

The current president is part of the old board. If VA has issues with what TJ PTA board had done, then they need to go after the old board member including the president who is causing this rift among parents.

It seems like the opposite is true. The TJ PTA is playing politics in violation of the charter. The state seem more like the good guys who are following the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be curious to know how many people pontificating about the TJ PTA's actions and behaviors (both individual members and Exec Com) have read the By Laws? https://tjptsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TJHSST-PTSA-2019-Bylaws.pdf. Yes, there's a lot of standard, flowering language in the document; however, there are some pretty clear statements about the purpose of the organization as well as it's legal relationship to the VA and National PTA entities. Moreover, the by laws do outline very clear expectations with respect to behavior of leadership and the entire charter in relation to the VA PTA. You can also cluck and bristle about whether there should be a TJPTA or if they should move to a PTO. Whatever decision is made, the current TJPTA does have a legal obligation to operate within the confines of the by laws.

Most notable for me in the by laws was the following:

"The association shall work to engage and empower children, families, and educators within schools and communities to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process by influencing school policy and advocating for children's issues, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities."

Seems to me, recent efforts to call in the legality of the counties authority to change the admissions process falls well outside what the TJPTA's purview. They can have an opinion and share that opinion, even advocate for a different approach but they are not the decision makers and are bound by decision vested with the recognized legal authorities.

BINGO!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be curious to know how many people pontificating about the TJ PTA's actions and behaviors (both individual members and Exec Com) have read the By Laws? https://tjptsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TJHSST-PTSA-2019-Bylaws.pdf. Yes, there's a lot of standard, flowering language in the document; however, there are some pretty clear statements about the purpose of the organization as well as it's legal relationship to the VA and National PTA entities. Moreover, the by laws do outline very clear expectations with respect to behavior of leadership and the entire charter in relation to the VA PTA. You can also cluck and bristle about whether there should be a TJPTA or if they should move to a PTO. Whatever decision is made, the current TJPTA does have a legal obligation to operate within the confines of the by laws.

Most notable for me in the by laws was the following:

"The association shall work to engage and empower children, families, and educators within schools and communities to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process by influencing school policy and advocating for children's issues, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities."

Seems to me, recent efforts to call in the legality of the counties authority to change the admissions process falls well outside what the TJPTA's purview. They can have an opinion and share that opinion, even advocate for a different approach but they are not the decision makers and are bound by decision vested with the recognized legal authorities.

BINGO!

I see nothing wrong with what the PTSA has done. Those that have said that the PTSA should only focus on school ops disregard the fact that the bylaws allow for advocacy as well.

Also, what the board does officially should be clearly separated from board members' individual rights to voice an opinion. One or two of them are particularly vocal - that's their prerogative.

I do think however, that the primary business of the PTA should be to take care of the business of the school - meetings, orientation, fund-raising, supporting and recognizing teachers, student celebrations etc. Do that well first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be curious to know how many people pontificating about the TJ PTA's actions and behaviors (both individual members and Exec Com) have read the By Laws? https://tjptsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TJHSST-PTSA-2019-Bylaws.pdf. Yes, there's a lot of standard, flowering language in the document; however, there are some pretty clear statements about the purpose of the organization as well as it's legal relationship to the VA and National PTA entities. Moreover, the by laws do outline very clear expectations with respect to behavior of leadership and the entire charter in relation to the VA PTA. You can also cluck and bristle about whether there should be a TJPTA or if they should move to a PTO. Whatever decision is made, the current TJPTA does have a legal obligation to operate within the confines of the by laws.

Most notable for me in the by laws was the following:

"The association shall work to engage and empower children, families, and educators within schools and communities to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process by influencing school policy and advocating for children's issues, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities."

Seems to me, recent efforts to call in the legality of the counties authority to change the admissions process falls well outside what the TJPTA's purview. They can have an opinion and share that opinion, even advocate for a different approach but they are not the decision makers and are bound by decision vested with the recognized legal authorities.

BINGO!

I see nothing wrong with what the PTSA has done. Those that have said that the PTSA should only focus on school ops disregard the fact that the bylaws allow for advocacy as well.

Also, what the board does officially should be clearly separated from board members' individual rights to voice an opinion. One or two of them are particularly vocal - that's their prerogative.

I do think however, that the primary business of the PTA should be to take care of the business of the school - meetings, orientation, fund-raising, supporting and recognizing teachers, student celebrations etc. Do that well first.

they are advocating for the removal of a subantial portion of the freshman class, they should be disbanded

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be curious to know how many people pontificating about the TJ PTA's actions and behaviors (both individual members and Exec Com) have read the By Laws? https://tjptsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TJHSST-PTSA-2019-Bylaws.pdf. Yes, there's a lot of standard, flowering language in the document; however, there are some pretty clear statements about the purpose of the organization as well as it's legal relationship to the VA and National PTA entities. Moreover, the by laws do outline very clear expectations with respect to behavior of leadership and the entire charter in relation to the VA PTA. You can also cluck and bristle about whether there should be a TJPTA or if they should move to a PTO. Whatever decision is made, the current TJPTA does have a legal obligation to operate within the confines of the by laws.

Most notable for me in the by laws was the following:

"The association shall work to engage and empower children, families, and educators within schools and communities to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process by influencing school policy and advocating for children's issues, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities."

Seems to me, recent efforts to call in the legality of the counties authority to change the admissions process falls well outside what the TJPTA's purview. They can have an opinion and share that opinion, even advocate for a different approach but they are not the decision makers and are bound by decision vested with the recognized legal authorities.

Um, OK. Please point to any legal action to challenge the change in the admissions process undertaken in the name of the newly elected TJPTA.

I don't think you'll find one. Rather, it seems like the woke brigade at the state level couldn't stand the thought that the PTA would include leaders who, in their individual capacities, objected to the dilution of TJ's admissions criteria. They wanted another group of people who'd just jump on board the equity train.
BINGO!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be curious to know how many people pontificating about the TJ PTA's actions and behaviors (both individual members and Exec Com) have read the By Laws? https://tjptsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TJHSST-PTSA-2019-Bylaws.pdf. Yes, there's a lot of standard, flowering language in the document; however, there are some pretty clear statements about the purpose of the organization as well as it's legal relationship to the VA and National PTA entities. Moreover, the by laws do outline very clear expectations with respect to behavior of leadership and the entire charter in relation to the VA PTA. You can also cluck and bristle about whether there should be a TJPTA or if they should move to a PTO. Whatever decision is made, the current TJPTA does have a legal obligation to operate within the confines of the by laws.

Most notable for me in the by laws was the following:

"The association shall work to engage and empower children, families, and educators within schools and communities to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process by influencing school policy and advocating for children's issues, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities."

Seems to me, recent efforts to call in the legality of the counties authority to change the admissions process falls well outside what the TJPTA's purview. They can have an opinion and share that opinion, even advocate for a different approach but they are not the decision makers and are bound by decision vested with the recognized legal authorities.

BINGO!

Um, OK. Please point to any legal action to challenge the change in the admissions process undertaken in the name of the newly elected TJPTA.

I don't think you'll find one. Rather, it seems like the woke brigade at the state level couldn't stand the thought that the PTA would include leaders who, in their individual capacities, objected to the dilution of TJ's admissions criteria. They wanted another group of people who'd just jump on board the equity train.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
they are advocating for the removal of a subantial portion of the freshman class, they should be disbanded

This is so ludicrously false that I can only assume it is a plant by the pro PTSA folks to mock their opponents. Clearly current members of the Executive Board expressed their opinion in their individual capacities that the new admissions policy is stupid. This in no way suggests that any new member of the freshman class be removed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
they are advocating for the removal of a subantial portion of the freshman class, they should be disbanded

This is so ludicrously false that I can only assume it is a plant by the pro PTSA folks to mock their opponents. Clearly current members of the Executive Board expressed their opinion in their individual capacities that the new admissions policy is stupid. This in no way suggests that any new member of the freshman class be removed.

They think they're making TJ great again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
they are advocating for the removal of a subantial portion of the freshman class, they should be disbanded

This is so ludicrously false that I can only assume it is a plant by the pro PTSA folks to mock their opponents. Clearly current members of the Executive Board expressed their opinion in their individual capacities that the new admissions policy is stupid. This in no way suggests that any new member of the freshman class be removed.

They think they're making TJ great again

Satire seems beyond you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
they are advocating for the removal of a subantial portion of the freshman class, they should be disbanded

This is so ludicrously false that I can only assume it is a plant by the pro PTSA folks to mock their opponents. Clearly current members of the Executive Board expressed their opinion in their individual capacities that the new admissions policy is stupid. This in no way suggests that any new member of the freshman class be removed.

They think they're making TJ great again

Satire seems beyond you.

Well it would be funny if the parallel between them and Trump weren't so true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be curious to know how many people pontificating about the TJ PTA's actions and behaviors (both individual members and Exec Com) have read the By Laws? https://tjptsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TJHSST-PTSA-2019-Bylaws.pdf. Yes, there's a lot of standard, flowering language in the document; however, there are some pretty clear statements about the purpose of the organization as well as it's legal relationship to the VA and National PTA entities. Moreover, the by laws do outline very clear expectations with respect to behavior of leadership and the entire charter in relation to the VA PTA. You can also cluck and bristle about whether there should be a TJPTA or if they should move to a PTO. Whatever decision is made, the current TJPTA does have a legal obligation to operate within the confines of the by laws.

Most notable for me in the by laws was the following:

"The association shall work to engage and empower children, families, and educators within schools and communities to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process by influencing school policy and advocating for children's issues, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities."

Seems to me, recent efforts to call in the legality of the counties authority to change the admissions process falls well outside what the TJPTA's purview. They can have an opinion and share that opinion, even advocate for a different approach but they are not the decision makers and are bound by decision vested with the recognized legal authorities.

Thanks for posting this. I was wondering what their by-laws said. I was a PTA President last year and if volunteers are seeking roles on the Executive Board for the primary motivation of obtaining a greater voice in advocacy, that's misguided. Particularly if your goal is counter to that of the school. A LOT of work goes into being on the Executive Board and running the day to day functions of a PTA - student events, teacher appreciation, fundraisers, chairing meetings, managing committees, communicating with the school, planning speakers, attending county meetings, assessing needs, budgeting/appropriations, etc, etc. Advocacy can be one piece of that puzzle, but my concern is that this hostile situation of "who's in charge of the TJPTA" is more about people thinking these roles give them access to affect change and not about about crafting and supporting the student-parent-teacher experience at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be curious to know how many people pontificating about the TJ PTA's actions and behaviors (both individual members and Exec Com) have read the By Laws? https://tjptsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TJHSST-PTSA-2019-Bylaws.pdf. Yes, there's a lot of standard, flowering language in the document; however, there are some pretty clear statements about the purpose of the organization as well as it's legal relationship to the VA and National PTA entities. Moreover, the by laws do outline very clear expectations with respect to behavior of leadership and the entire charter in relation to the VA PTA. You can also cluck and bristle about whether there should be a TJPTA or if they should move to a PTO. Whatever decision is made, the current TJPTA does have a legal obligation to operate within the confines of the by laws.

Most notable for me in the by laws was the following:

"The association shall work to engage and empower children, families, and educators within schools and communities to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process by influencing school policy and advocating for children's issues, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities."

Seems to me, recent efforts to call in the legality of the counties authority to change the admissions process falls well outside what the TJPTA's purview. They can have an opinion and share that opinion, even advocate for a different approach but they are not the decision makers and are bound by decision vested with the recognized legal authorities.

Thanks for posting this. I was wondering what their by-laws said. I was a PTA President last year and if volunteers are seeking roles on the Executive Board for the primary motivation of obtaining a greater voice in advocacy, that's misguided. Particularly if your goal is counter to that of the school. A LOT of work goes into being on the Executive Board and running the day to day functions of a PTA - student events, teacher appreciation, fundraisers, chairing meetings, managing committees, communicating with the school, planning speakers, attending county meetings, assessing needs, budgeting/appropriations, etc, etc. Advocacy can be one piece of that puzzle, but my concern is that this hostile situation of "who's in charge of the TJPTA" is more about people thinking these roles give them access to affect change and not about about crafting and supporting the student-parent-teacher experience at TJ.

It is difficult to imagine that the Coalition 4 TJ would send a bloc of their soldiers to run as the “recommended slate of candidates” for the TJ PTSA EC if their goal wasn’t to try to impact policy, specifically with political aims in mind.

[Anonymous]

Great. So the VA PTSA can threaten revocation due to thought crimes.