DC PCS charging PTA to Use Space/address?
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Anonymous
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Has anyone heard of this before: the charter school is charging the PTA to use the space for fundraising, to use the address, and to use space in the building to store things like T-shirts that are for sale? This seems weird since all the PTA money goes to the school....
ofnthe PT e |
Anonymous
| Not familiar with it. Apparently DCPs PTAs are supposed to do the DGs and DPR permitting for schools and rec centers, but it seems to he seldom enforced. |
Anonymous
I was the President of a DC PCS Parent Association. No - the school did not charge us a dime for things like that. |
Anonymous
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That is weird, but perhaps there are extenuating circumstances (beyond a bad relationship between the PTO leadership and the school)?
The only thing I can imagine is that the school isn't in a space they fully control, or needs to pay for after-hours security or coverage because of some issue with the charter's landlord. Have there been issues? Has the PTO tried to go to the school's board with issue? Criticized the leadership publicly? Sided with teachers or slammed people on school listservs etc? Not excusing but this sounds like a symptom of a bigger problem. |
Anonymous
| Is this SSMA? |
Anonymous
Ha! I was wondering the same thing. |
Anonymous
| If the PTA was a truly armslength organization with tons of cash, sure. But PTOs are often shoestring operations with few people who do everything and the schools should be happy to get whatever they earn and offer, not charge them rent. That’s the sign of a terrible working relationship. |
Anonymous
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Is there some weird accounting reason that the school wants to show income, not just have the PTA buy stuff and donate?
Or is it because the school will get to choose how the ‘rent’ money is spent rather than the PTA? |
Anonymous
My guess is this gets to the crux of it. |
Anonymous
| There is some clause at least with DCPS about who has to pay and who doesn't. I'll see if I can find it - but no, PTOs don't pay. |
Anonymous
| I could see having the PTO pay if they need to hire security/pay staff to stay late. I assume the PTO has D&O insurance? |
Anonymous
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Here: DCPS lists "reduced rate" qualifiers
https://dcps.dc.gov/page/use-school-facilities-and-grounds https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/DCPS%20Fee%20Schedule%20for%20Space%209-4-1990.pdf So in DCPS PTOs are supposed to pay something. Not sure if ours actually does. |
Anonymous
But this is a Public Charter School - the core of independence is they do not need to file DCPS regulations [they do need to follow OSSE] |
Anonymous
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As the school's community association president, who signed an MOU with the school that included rent, I just wanted to let folks know that it was a mutually agreed upon decision.
I just want to set the record straight. Feel free to contact me with any questions at president@ssmaca.org. Chances are though, I will make sure you are part of the SSMA community before responding to any questions. Also happy to have conversations with other PTA/PTO leaders who may find an MOU beneficial to share with you lessons learned during the process. In the case of SSMA, the PTA/PTO is a separate 501c3. |
Anonymous
Is SSMA getting shut down next year? |