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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]^^^
You don't understand CCPTA. As previous comments indicated, not all representatives will agree on everything. CCPTA is not there to "represent" any individual PTA - period. CCPTA does not advocate "in the name of" any PTA other than "CCPTA."

The Arlington CCPTA is there to bring all the schools together via their individually selected representatives (if you don't like your representative, that's your PTA's issue to handle) and do things such as:
* keep PTAs apprised of issues
* gather perspectives from PTA representatives (who are charged with doing the same at their school so they can bring those perspectives to CCPTA)
* share resources, experiences, and expertise (particularly in regard to effective advocacy)
* Advocate on behalf of the group in the best interest of the school district overall
* Provide support and assistance as appropriate and as able to individual PTAs
* Provide training to PTA officers so that they can be more effective in their roles at their schools and to help ensure PTAs are operating according to National PTA guidelines and requirements

If an individual school chooses not to have a PTA, that's their business. But then they cannot complain that CCPTA is not taking their concerns under consideration. As a former active member of PTAs and CCPTA, I am unaware of "whole schools in our system 
that do NOT have PTAs in part to stay out of that kind of situation." In fact, I'm not aware of a single school that does not have a PTA, PTSA, or PTSO at all in order "to stay out of that kind of situation." And I really don't believe CCPTA ever claimed Nottingham wanted to close and therefore CCPTA is advocating for its closure. So, no, CCPTA was not "representing Nottingham." It was representing CCPTA.

And I will tell you also that CCPTA almost always has to form its position on any given issue based on extremely little feedback from any of its representatives because representatives rarely bring substantive feedback from their school communities on any policy issue. If PTAs really cared, they would devote meeting time to discuss CCPTA inquiries and issues and even vote on a position when appropriate. They don't. They are too focused on the needs or "needs" of their own school and when it comes down to it, really don't care about the broader system issues.....until they do, Ms. Nottingham.[/quote]

Arlington Tech does not have a PTA. HB Woodlawn does not have a PTA. Does Carling Springs have a PTA? Community HS?

If CCPTA stuck to supporting real PTAs at school, it would retain legitimacy. Help them get their budgets in order? Great. Tell the School Board that a school should be eliminated - no way! This condescending attitude that somehow it can "advocate on behalf of the group in the best interest of the school district overall" - IN THE NAME OF THE CONSTITUENT PTAs, but without their buy-in - is bunk. You said it yourself: there is "extremely little feedback from any of its representatives because representatives rarely bring substantive feedback from their school communities on any policy issue." Why is that? Because constiutent PTAs are busy within their own schools. If people want to advocate for system changes, they must do so on their own and under some other brand.[/quote]

Yes, Carlin Springs has a PTO and participates in CCPTA - or at least they were participating a few years ago when I was last involved. 
I don't recall if HB sent a representative; but if HB and AT do not have an official form of a "PTA" - it is not because they are trying to avoid "situations like these" as the initial comment stated so authoritatively.

[b]"Because constiutent PTAs are busy within their own schools. If people want to advocate for system changes, they must do so on their own and under some other brand." [/b] Yes. One brand is CCPTA. If a PTA does not like what CCPTA advocates for - they can send a representative to participate in CCPTA or at the very least send an email to CCPTA stating their interests and positions. IOW, PROVIDE THE FEEDBACK CCPTA SEEKS. And if you don't like what CCPTA says or does, then the PTA can send its own advocacy directly to the SB.[/quote]

You are clearly someone with no connection to those schools…you don’t know why they don’t have PTAs. 
cCPTA does not have the writ you claim, not in the eyes of many people who don’t belong to its exc committee. Its become the equivalent of CivFed or committee of 100, just self-appointed know it all’s who have no idea how out of touch they are with current reality and real constituent concerns. [/quote]

I'm pretty active in our PTA and I have no idea what CCPTA does. [/quote]

not something to be proud of[/quote]

This whole thread could be a nice reminder to the CCPTA that maybe they need to work on how exactly they do outreach to PTAs and membership. If you can't get PTA leadership, who spend a lot of time volunteering in APS, to buy in to your mission, maybe that's a sign? [/quote]

or it could be a nice reminder to PTAs to send a rep who will be active. [/quote]

Or ask why they aren't doing so? Maybe? Just maybe? [/quote]

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