Draconian PTA Fees?

[Anonymous]

Sligo Creek ES, Silver Spring
$10/individual
$15/family

Anyone can get a directory.

Very inclusive PTA and offers free babysitting for ages 3 and up during meetings.

[Anonymous]

My gosh guys- these are parent volunteers. I think we should all be grateful they donate their time. Our PTA actually has a suggested donation of $40 and invites everyone to participate regardless. The fund lots of great things for teachers, and provide great activities for kids. PLEASE let's support each other. Get involved, gently express your financial concerns to your PTA. We are all working hard in our own way to support our kids and our community. So many comments on this thread sound so angry. Let's remember we all have the same goal- and THANK parents who are taking the time to get involved.

[Anonymous]

This is OP again. Thanks for bringing this up on the listserv, but the discussion there rivals DCUM and it's not anonymous! I think part of the problem is that there is a perception that either you "can't afford" $40 and you're FARMs or you can afford it. What about federal workers who are afraid the govt will shut down? Have gone without a payraise for 3 years? Or those who were laid off and accumulated credit card debt? Why should a "free" public school charge $40 for this?

And frankly if it's divisive, why not do away with it? When I was a kid, my friends gave me their phone numbers and I called up!



Are you talking about people who live in the [very expensive] Bethesda ES school district and are federal workers and they can't come up with $40 once per year? That sounds like mismanagement of finances or freeloading to me.

[Anonymous]

PP again -- and just to be clear, all the fed workers I know are quite generous and community-minded so I just don't buy it that they are ones in Bethesda not willing to pay $40.

[Anonymous]

Westbrook ES is $20 for the PTA and then another $12 in class dues.

And a suggested $150 for the operating budget.