Reply to Powell PTA theft and other DCPS schools with large PTA budgets.

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]First, be involved in the PTA/PTO.  You don't have to volunteer for a position, but at least show up to some meetings.

Second, the scenarios in which someone does something like the Powell or Lafayette women did are far and few between.  The vast, vast majority of PTA people want to do, and do, a good job to make the school better; that's why they volunteer.  Just make sure your PTA is reasonably transparent and has financial controls in place.  You probably should have more trust that the PTA is spending the money carefully than an individual teacher.  You are thinking -- but I know the teacher.  Well, yes, you know them in their role as a teacher.  That doesn't mean they are good financial managers, and they are equally as likely or unlikely to be dishonest with funds as a random PTA person.

Third, PTAs have bylaws and processes and work as a group.  They coordinate with the school admin to make decisions about what money gets spent on, so they are making choices with knowledge of the competing needs.  It feels useful to buy books for your kid's classroom.  Do you know how many books that classroom has or if others are donating books to it?  Do you know the need for books in the classroom your other child is in, or the classroom with the brand new teacher?  What if the school's priority needs are copy paper and kleenex, and the PTA desperately needs money for that, but you are buying excess books?  What if it's a lot more cheaper for the PTA to buy certain supplies--the copy paper or whatever--in bulk rather than for individual teachers to go buy it from CVS with GoFundMe money?

Finally, pull your weight.  All that good stuff that the PTA does for your kids -- supporting field trips or buying snacks for the honor roll celebration or paying the entry fee for the spelling bee -- someone is paying for it.  Contribute what you can rather than being a free rider.[/quote]

Not OP but: NO.

I do not feel our PTA spends its money on the right things, and I'm tired of being asked for money. It is mostly pointless make work that PTA people dislocate their shoulders patting themselves on the back for but which kids and parents don't want or need. Sorry not sorry.

My kid shows up to school on time, with a great attitude and prepared for class. We get our paperwork in on time and respond to requests from the teacher or administration for donations or support when needed for school events and programs. We volunteer to chaperone field trips and volunteer as class parents and help with class parties. But I don't eff with the PTA anymore. I think it's a waste and time and energy and a distraction from the actual work of the school. That doesn't make me a "free rider." [/quote]

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