Reply to PTAs: I don't want to donate money to facilitate adults socializing with their friends

Forum Index » General Parenting Discussion

Reply to "PTAs: I don't want to donate money to facilitate adults socializing with their friends"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP again. To clarify: the PTA provides $300 towards "refreshments" for parent socials. Individual parents volunteer to "host" and can do so at their home or at a local business. They are usually at bars or restaurants. Yes they cover booze (will usually cover one drink for everyone and a few shared apps, the hosts will usually also kick in money).

I am fine with these events happening, I just don't think they should use money from the general fund. Most people who attend wind up buying food and drinks for themselves on top of what is offered anyway, and the hosts of the event could still pay for some shared apps if they want. It it could just be a happy hour. Heck, they could work with local businesses and see if they'd offer PTA members a discount for these events -- would get neighborhood people into these businesses so there's an incentive.

I've suggested all of this at meetings. Others on the PTA board agree with me. But the people who want to keep using PTA funds are influential, people do what they say. I think it is an abuse of power and that they are using PTA funds inappropriately.[/quote]

What fraction of the budget is this? This is probably a drop in the bucket. The kids will be fine. The parents okay get to know each other better. You’re being weird about this if this is your typical well to do school. Just stop donating if you’re that upset.[/quote]

But it turns the PTA into a slush fund for non-school events. And when the events are not inclusive, it funnels money from the entire school community to a select few. These events could easily be unfunded and the PTA could just say "here's the info for the parent happy hour in Tuesday at Kearney's -- hope you can make it." That accomplishes the community aspect without spending PTA funds.

If you want to spend PTA funds, there should be some nexus with the school and for the direct benefit of the school/kids. Sure, parents grabbing drinks in a weeknight "builds community" but the connection is too loose to be a funded event.

Drawing clear boundaries for this kind of thing is how you avoid ethics problems, accusations about misuse of funds, and distrust and cynicism within the community.[/quote]

For $300? It sounds like there is a budget line item here not a slush fund.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics