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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Williamsburg and Swanson are total shithole schools with very lame PTAs.  I don’t know about Hamm.  But this fantasy some schools are living large is not true.[/quote]

The PTAs are not funding Kings Dominion, FWIW. It’s the fact that Williamsburg has a practically nonexistent FARM rate so families can shell out the hundred dollars for the field trip. That’s just not a reality for many of these other schools. [/quote]

While the three South Arlington middle schools have a fair amount of well-to-do families, the disparity is still fairly stark, when compared to the predominantly wealthy North Arlington middle schools. There are no easy solutions short of massive boundary changes to even out the demographics or a 100% lottery system; neither will likely happen any time soon if ever.

If there legitimate concerns over equity, I hope the wealthier families at the three South Arlington schools can step up to help those who may need financial support. Perhaps this is where parent groups could coordinate such an effort. [/quote]

Unfortunately, it’s complicated as the national PTA is extremely bureaucratic and [b]has rules that don’t completely make sense in the spirit of giving, but I suppose have to be in place to prevent fraud. [/b]What I mean is, it’s not easy to transfer money from one PTA to another. We tried to help a family who lost their entire home to a fire with PTA money and the national PTA told us we could not do that because it was not to the benefit of all students. I’m not trying to be a Debbie downer but just want to point out that many of us over the years have tried to find ways to share funds amongst schools and it’s very difficult. Pretty much a fundraiser would have to be done outside of the PTA, it would have to be like a community fundraiser. Just seems absurd with when some PTA’s raised 30-40,000 a year.  [/quote]

People donate money with the understanding and intention it's going to a certain thing.  You can't then just pivot and have a handful of people decide it goes somewhere completely different.  Honestly, PTA money is not for a family who lost their home (as sad as that is) so apparently your PTA officers had terrible judgment and that's why the rules exist.[/quote]

I guarantee you most parents who stroke a check at the beginning of the year to a no-frills fundraiser have no idea what those funds are going to be used for at the school. [/quote]

They give it thinking it's going to benefit the school and its students and teachers.  Not be used for people's pet feel good projects.  Are you serious with this?  That is unethical what you're suggesting.[/quote]

You think it’s unethical for a PTA to give excess funds to another Arlington PTA? Is that really what you’re saying? I don’t think unethical is the correct word. [/quote]

The example given was giving PTA money to someone whose house burned down.  But in general yes it is unethical to collect donations for one purpose or cause and then do another thing with them.  PTAs could hold a specific fundraiser for a different PTA and be transparent as someone else mentioned.[/quote]

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