South Arlington & PTAs

[Anonymous]

So I was reading the thread about the north-south divide. There's a lot of talk about PTAs and the roles they play. I've read the NYT and WaPo articles about how wealthy schools' PTAs buy all sorts of great stuff to supplement the budget.

I live in South Arlington. I cannot afford to move to North Arlington. I cannot afford private school. I can afford to give to the PTA when my kiddos start school. Is this an effective strategy to improve schools? I work full time, so does my spouse, so I can't assist too much during the day, but I can totally write a check. Most of my neighbors in my SFH 'hood are dual-income. The ones who aren't usually have a parent involved in the PTA anyway. I saw people mentioning that the lower-income folks don't participate, but what about the UMCs? Or is it just not enough?

[Anonymous]

Are you gonna write a 20k check?

[Anonymous]

My kids went to a Title I south Arlington elementary school. My theory was that, given the limited time my husband and I had to volunteer, we'd rather spend it doing things other than fundraising. We donated $500 a year to the PTA and spent our time doing actual activities (chaperoning field trips, working the book fair, doing set-up or clean-up for school events) that they needed help for instead of lots of time on fundraisers that are time-intensive relative to what they raise. We also responded whenever possible to teacher requests for art or science materials, sent in coats and clothes to the school social worker to distribute, donated extra school supplies, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to a Title I south Arlington elementary school. My theory was that, given the limited time my husband and I had to volunteer, we'd rather spend it doing things other than fundraising. We donated $500 a year to the PTA and spent our time doing actual activities (chaperoning field trips, working the book fair, doing set-up or clean-up for school events) that they needed help for instead of lots of time on fundraisers that are time-intensive relative to what they raise. We also responded whenever possible to teacher requests for art or science materials, sent in coats and clothes to the school social worker to distribute, donated extra school supplies, etc.

Related question. I read posts about how NA schools have enrichment and clubs and after school activities, whereas SA elementaries generally have social assistance programs and test prep, and pretty much nothing else. Is that actually true or just an exaggeration? Are those enrichment activities paid for and organized by the PTA/parents or is it based on how individual school decide to spend an allotment from the district?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you gonna write a 20k check?

I was thinking more like the $500 someone else mentioned.

Is it a situation where if the UMC families all chipped in $500 the PTAs could help? I know there's no silver bullet, but I'm just trying to figure out what all this stuff means.

I do go to work super early - I could volunteer for things after school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to a Title I south Arlington elementary school. My theory was that, given the limited time my husband and I had to volunteer, we'd rather spend it doing things other than fundraising. We donated $500 a year to the PTA and spent our time doing actual activities (chaperoning field trips, working the book fair, doing set-up or clean-up for school events) that they needed help for instead of lots of time on fundraisers that are time-intensive relative to what they raise. We also responded whenever possible to teacher requests for art or science materials, sent in coats and clothes to the school social worker to distribute, donated extra school supplies, etc.

Related question. I read posts about how NA schools have enrichment and clubs and after school activities, whereas SA elementaries generally have social assistance programs and test prep, and pretty much nothing else. Is that actually true or just an exaggeration? Are those enrichment activities paid for and organized by the PTA/parents or is it based on how individual school decide to spend an allotment from the district?

The north Arlington elementary schools that I am familiar with offer enrichment classes that are sourced by enrichment coordinator volunteers, but the parents of kids taking the classes pay for them. The vendors offering the classes are independent of the schools. Volunteers oversee some things like chess and journalism clubs. In middle school there is some of this as well, but kids are also encouraged to come up with their own clubs and find a teacher who will agree to chaperone after school.

[Anonymous]

South Arlington elementary schools typically avoid programming that is cost prohibitive. Even if Families are paying for their kids, that can’t happen in many South Arlington schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to a Title I south Arlington elementary school. My theory was that, given the limited time my husband and I had to volunteer, we'd rather spend it doing things other than fundraising. We donated $500 a year to the PTA and spent our time doing actual activities (chaperoning field trips, working the book fair, doing set-up or clean-up for school events) that they needed help for instead of lots of time on fundraisers that are time-intensive relative to what they raise. We also responded whenever possible to teacher requests for art or science materials, sent in coats and clothes to the school social worker to distribute, donated extra school supplies, etc.

Related question. I read posts about how NA schools have enrichment and clubs and after school activities, whereas SA elementaries generally have social assistance programs and test prep, and pretty much nothing else. Is that actually true or just an exaggeration? Are those enrichment activities paid for and organized by the PTA/parents or is it based on how individual school decide to spend an allotment from the district?

The north Arlington elementary schools that I am familiar with offer enrichment classes that are sourced by enrichment coordinator volunteers, but the parents of kids taking the classes pay for them. The vendors offering the classes are independent of the schools. Volunteers oversee some things like chess and journalism clubs. In middle school there is some of this as well, but kids are also encouraged to come up with their own clubs and find a teacher who will agree to chaperone after school.

Thanks. Can you say more about enrichment coordinator volunteers? Who they are, what they do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to a Title I south Arlington elementary school. My theory was that, given the limited time my husband and I had to volunteer, we'd rather spend it doing things other than fundraising. We donated $500 a year to the PTA and spent our time doing actual activities (chaperoning field trips, working the book fair, doing set-up or clean-up for school events) that they needed help for instead of lots of time on fundraisers that are time-intensive relative to what they raise. We also responded whenever possible to teacher requests for art or science materials, sent in coats and clothes to the school social worker to distribute, donated extra school supplies, etc.

Related question. I read posts about how NA schools have enrichment and clubs and after school activities, whereas SA elementaries generally have social assistance programs and test prep, and pretty much nothing else. Is that actually true or just an exaggeration? Are those enrichment activities paid for and organized by the PTA/parents or is it based on how individual school decide to spend an allotment from the district?

The north Arlington elementary schools that I am familiar with offer enrichment classes that are sourced by enrichment coordinator volunteers, but the parents of kids taking the classes pay for them. The vendors offering the classes are independent of the schools. Volunteers oversee some things like chess and journalism clubs. In middle school there is some of this as well, but kids are also encouraged to come up with their own clubs and find a teacher who will agree to chaperone after school.

Thanks. Can you say more about enrichment coordinator volunteers? Who they are, what they do?

To follow on - is there a backlash if UMC parents pay for these extras that other kids there can't? Is there a backlash if some kids just get test prep and others are getting other enrichment?

Do any schools use sponsorship to bring programs to students?

[Anonymous]

Yes. There will be a backlash if some kids are getting test prep/canned food/cost drives
And a handful of kids are getting robotics club.

[Anonymous]

I forget the Jamestown ES budget for PTA but I think it was 6 figures. It pays for a LOT of programming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I was reading the thread about the north-south divide. There's a lot of talk about PTAs and the roles they play. I've read the NYT and WaPo articles about how wealthy schools' PTAs buy all sorts of great stuff to supplement the budget.

I live in South Arlington. I cannot afford to move to North Arlington. I cannot afford private school. I can afford to give to the PTA when my kiddos start school. Is this an effective strategy to improve schools? I work full time, so does my spouse, so I can't assist too much during the day, but I can totally write a check. Most of my neighbors in my SFH 'hood are dual-income. The ones who aren't usually have a parent involved in the PTA anyway. I saw people mentioning that the lower-income folks don't participate, but what about the UMCs? Or is it just not enough?

No, having a good PTA doesn't make the academics better or increase scores. It does provide some fun experiences though and some extras for the classroom for teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. There will be a backlash if some kids are getting test prep/canned food/cost drives
And a handful of kids are getting robotics club.

I guess I just don't have a good understanding of what those things cost. Can UMC (or the whole school) families raise those funds?

[Anonymous]

North Arlington PTAs generally make the bulk of their huge budgets from high-end fundraising galas at places like the Washington Golf and Country Club, where attendance is like $150 a couple and there's a swanky silent auction and live auction of an orgy after a wine dinner with the most popular families in the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to a Title I south Arlington elementary school. My theory was that, given the limited time my husband and I had to volunteer, we'd rather spend it doing things other than fundraising. We donated $500 a year to the PTA and spent our time doing actual activities (chaperoning field trips, working the book fair, doing set-up or clean-up for school events) that they needed help for instead of lots of time on fundraisers that are time-intensive relative to what they raise. We also responded whenever possible to teacher requests for art or science materials, sent in coats and clothes to the school social worker to distribute, donated extra school supplies, etc.

Related question. I read posts about how NA schools have enrichment and clubs and after school activities, whereas SA elementaries generally have social assistance programs and test prep, and pretty much nothing else. Is that actually true or just an exaggeration? Are those enrichment activities paid for and organized by the PTA/parents or is it based on how individual school decide to spend an allotment from the district?

The north Arlington elementary schools that I am familiar with offer enrichment classes that are sourced by enrichment coordinator volunteers, but the parents of kids taking the classes pay for them. The vendors offering the classes are independent of the schools. Volunteers oversee some things like chess and journalism clubs. In middle school there is some of this as well, but kids are also encouraged to come up with their own clubs and find a teacher who will agree to chaperone after school.

Thanks. Can you say more about enrichment coordinator volunteers? Who they are, what they do?

At the beginning of the school year, or end of the previous one, the pta sends out emails requesting volunteers for various positions, including enrichment coordinator. I don’t know everything that is involved with position, but they find vendors, match them with a space in the school, advertise the offerings to parents and organize the sign up and payment process.