PTSA Donations

[Anonymous]

Based on this thread, all the talk about rich people supporting their PTA resulting in funding sources far beyond the county's contribution is nonsense. I thought it was quite normal to contribute and I give $500/year/child. If DCUM isn't giving, who is?

[Anonymous]

I tend to donate for specific things - for example thanksgiving community charity drive, gift cards for teachers, post prom party

[Anonymous]

We participate in PTA sponsored events and buy whatever it is they sell at that time. That's about it. It's a cliquish group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on this thread, all the talk about rich people supporting their PTA resulting in funding sources far beyond the county's contribution is nonsense. I thought it was quite normal to contribute and I give $500/year/child. If DCUM isn't giving, who is?

No one. Folks may participate or give when/if you have an event or fundraiser but before that there is no giving and very little volunteering to lead the PTA or a committee (even when you give them a budget and free reign to do whatever they want).

People have this perception that the boards are cliques or just SAHM. Folks were real surprised when they found out our entire board was working parents with multiple kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on this thread, all the talk about rich people supporting their PTA resulting in funding sources far beyond the county's contribution is nonsense. I thought it was quite normal to contribute and I give $500/year/child. If DCUM isn't giving, who is?

No one. Folks may participate or give when/if you have an event or fundraiser but before that there is no giving and very little volunteering to lead the PTA or a committee (even when you give them a budget and free reign to do whatever they want).

People have this perception that the boards are cliques or just SAHM. Folks were real surprised when they found out our entire board was working parents with multiple kids.

Every school we've been at has been cliques, and sadly only a few people do anything. Our HS constantly demands money for everything under the sun but never anything like trying to get donations, etc. for what they need. Most of the board are working but its the same people since ES and they weren't impressive then and less impressive now.

[Anonymous]

I gave up on ours when they formed committees to find out what the school wanted. It was a poor school, obviously they wanted everything.

I think it would be helpful if the relationship of what a PTA does and doesn't do was clearly defined across all moco. Maybe it is, I don't know. When our kid attended a wealthy school, the PTA was more like a lobbying group parents used to tell the administration what they expected. Also, bake sales.

At poorer schools, it's been more like a few people trying to keep events going in the face of crashing apathy. I'm not the best person in the world. I've pretty much given up myself.

[Anonymous]

I mostly volunteer my time and energy and my a/v equipment rather than donate financially. A lot of schools don't seem to know what they actually need for talent shows, stage musicals, and more, so whatever I can do to help works out. Even when the school has some of this stuff it's sometimes gathering dust in a closet, long forgotten. And it's obvious, in some cases, some PTA bought thousands of dollars worth of it but then because of turnover it's as if it all doesn't exist.l anymore. The shock on my face when I see almost brand-new Shure / Sennheiser wireless microphones and their receivers, in one instance . . .

[Anonymous]

And then there was the time we found a PTA-purchased camcorder in a cabinet, forgotten for years. Which was something that would have been really useful at times :p

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I gave up on ours when they formed committees to find out what the school wanted. It was a poor school, obviously they wanted everything.

I think it would be helpful if the relationship of what a PTA does and doesn't do was clearly defined across all moco. Maybe it is, I don't know. When our kid attended a wealthy school, the PTA was more like a lobbying group parents used to tell the administration what they expected. Also, bake sales.

At poorer schools, it's been more like a few people trying to keep events going in the face of crashing apathy. I'm not the best person in the world. I've pretty much given up myself.

I agrée that clear understanding oft what PTA is and isn’t going to do county wide would be helpful. However, wealthier schools have foundations and booster organizations that have been setup so they would fund other activities:enrichment regardless.