Anonymous
Post 09/21/2023 11:55     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
How much unpaid overtime, fundraising, inflating grades at the whimsy of admin, etc is enough. I think teachers are collectively saying enough is enough in regard to the mismanagement of public institutions.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2023 20:51     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
Anonymous wrote:I have found that the teachers union only makes teachers lives more difficult. The union is more for protecting admin who demand unpaid overtime from teachers.

Just how much do you have to piss off your colleagues to get to that point?
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2023 13:38     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our local MS is having several fundraisers this fall. Some of them used to be fundraisers the PTA held but now the school is doing. We have a decent PTA so I’m surprised the school is directly seeking donations…esp given the recent tax increase. I’m happy to support our school but such fundraising makes me wonder if we should be lobbying MCPS to give our MS more funds? Does anyone else’s school do this?


In my own experience as a PTA board member, principals are not very transparent with their school level budgets. We could have spent every cent the PTA made on field trips for students who couldn't afford them and school supplies like pencils. When we would ask what the overall budget and the shortfall we needed to cover, no principal would ever give us exact numbers. They just wanted as much $$ as we would hand over. Principals like school-sponsored fundraisers because they can spend the $$ however they want without answering questions.


As a PTA officer at my kids' high school, yes. This is my experience as well. They never want to reveal budgets or actual needs because then we'd ask questions they either can't answer or don't want to answer for fear of retaliation from central office.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2023 13:35     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
Anonymous wrote:Our local MS is having several fundraisers this fall. Some of them used to be fundraisers the PTA held but now the school is doing. We have a decent PTA so I’m surprised the school is directly seeking donations…esp given the recent tax increase. I’m happy to support our school but such fundraising makes me wonder if we should be lobbying MCPS to give our MS more funds? Does anyone else’s school do this?


In my own experience as a PTA board member, principals are not very transparent with their school level budgets. We could have spent every cent the PTA made on field trips for students who couldn't afford them and school supplies like pencils. When we would ask what the overall budget and the shortfall we needed to cover, no principal would ever give us exact numbers. They just wanted as much $$ as we would hand over. Principals like school-sponsored fundraisers because they can spend the $$ however they want without answering questions.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2023 12:15     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
I have found that the teachers union only makes teachers lives more difficult. The union is more for protecting admin who demand unpaid overtime from teachers.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2023 20:08     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
Anonymous wrote:Wanna know what our MS spends $ on? Tennis balls. Not for PE. To cover the 4 legs of every chair in certain classrooms when the teacher below complains about how loud the sounds of the chairs being moved are 🙄

It's a real issue.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2023 19:24     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You can lobby for higher taxes or changed priorities. I doubt you can successfully lobby MCPS to favor your school.



Op here. True- but it makes me wonder if others schools are fundraising to cover deficits that MCPS could be assisting with.



Our school has always fundraised by bringing in things like a Kona Ice truck on Fridays to get $ from students to use for future things for students.

MCPS needs to cut some of the fat in central office to serve students and teachers in schools.



Don't blame fat for what sugar did.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2023 18:05     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
Wanna know what our MS spends $ on? Tennis balls. Not for PE. To cover the 4 legs of every chair in certain classrooms when the teacher below complains about how loud the sounds of the chairs being moved are 🙄
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2023 16:49     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
more than 90% of the budget goes to staff salaries and benefits. That doesn't leave much else. Keep voting for the teacher's union and this is what will happen.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2023 14:30     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You can lobby for higher taxes or changed priorities. I doubt you can successfully lobby MCPS to favor your school.



Op here. True- but it makes me wonder if others schools are fundraising to cover deficits that MCPS could be assisting with.



Our school has always fundraised by bringing in things like a Kona Ice truck on Fridays to get $ from students to use for future things for students.

MCPS needs to cut some of the fat in central office to serve students and teachers in schools.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2023 14:17     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You can lobby for higher taxes or changed priorities. I doubt you can successfully lobby MCPS to favor your school.



Op here. True- but it makes me wonder if others schools are fundraising to cover deficits that MCPS could be assisting with.

They aren’t fundraising to cover deficits. They want to cover “extras” beyond what the general budget is allocating. For example, maybe they get a certain $$ to replace some PE equipment, but want to upgrade more. Or maybe they want to purchase equipment for “fun” at lunchtime. Maybe it’s for prizes or honor roll parties. These are the types of things that PTAs will cover with those extra funds.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2023 14:11     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
Anonymous wrote:You can lobby for higher taxes or changed priorities. I doubt you can successfully lobby MCPS to favor your school.



Op here. True- but it makes me wonder if others schools are fundraising to cover deficits that MCPS could be assisting with.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2023 13:54     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
You can lobby for higher taxes or changed priorities. I doubt you can successfully lobby MCPS to favor your school.

Anonymous
Post 09/17/2023 13:47     Subject: MS (not PTA) is fundraising
Our local MS is having several fundraisers this fall. Some of them used to be fundraisers the PTA held but now the school is doing. We have a decent PTA so I’m surprised the school is directly seeking donations…esp given the recent tax increase. I’m happy to support our school but such fundraising makes me wonder if we should be lobbying MCPS to give our MS more funds? Does anyone else’s school do this?