Reply to APS Fall boundary questionnaire

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]In DC, multiple public schools that we were at significantly contributed to the school to fund class aides, technology, a special program (outdoor) teacher. So it's not uncommon.[/quote]

It may be common; but that doesn't make it within National PTA guidelines to which every PTA is beholden.[/quote]

But what is the justification? While we should not have a poorly funded school due to parent lack of income, it shouldn't mean that we can't have all schools be at least sufficiently funded and some funded more than sufficiently (by parents) just due to equality.[/quote]

The justification is that the school system should be funding these particular items, across the board. They should not be relying on PTAs. If PTAs constantly fill in gaps in basic funding, like for technology or teacher training/salary, and other basic supplies, they will keep slashing the budget, knowing that PTAs (in the wealthy areas likely to notice and complain/organize) will just fix it. Then the poor schools don’t get those things, ever. It’s not an issue of equality, but equity, which is different. The inequities balloon when PTAs cover up the lack of funding coming from the system. [/quote]

NP. So APS cuts budgets which results in gaps in education, but parents can't fund the gaps in the school where all students could benefit.  That leaves parents with the option of 1) accepting gaps in their kids' education or 2) paying for after school classes which only their child benefits from. Wouldn't it make more sense to allow parents to fund things at the school which all the kids could benefit from, or let PTAs pool resources and spread them evenly across schools?  I get very tired of the "can't do it, there is no solution" answers. And frankly, it seems that regardless of the rules some (wealthier) PTAs just pay for stuff anyway, while lower income schools (even those with decent PFA funding) follow the rules.  How does that serve equity?  It doesn't. So you have inequity even with the rules since there is no enforcement. The rules aren't preserving equity.[/quote]

Fine.  Then APS should direct more resources to the poor schools and let the PTAs of the wealthier schools purchase the laptops and pay for the teacher development and training.  And those PTAs and school parents don't get to cry foul or complain that APS is providing things for the poor schools that they aren't providing for theirs.  Yeah.  No lawsuits there.  And I'm sure the State would be fine with that, too.

You're missing PP's point.  If the PTAs don't pay for it, then APS DOES. That's how it's been working.  And no, it isn't right for well-funded PTAs to make purchases that then obligate APS' budget to maintain/replace something for their school that other schools don't have.  And PTA guidelines are also that PTAs should not be making purchases or entering into agreements or contracts that obligate future PTA budgets.

Same old ridiculous argument used to perpetuate the status quo.  Well, it's going to be unfair no matter what; so we might as well keep on doing what we want and for our own kids regardless of any effects or considerations for others.[/quote]

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