Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
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.

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.

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.

"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." 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.

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.

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
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.

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.

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.

"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." 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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
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.

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.

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.

"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." 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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:^^^
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.

Anonymous wrote:The school system will be fine.

Anonymous wrote:Kadera is by far the best APS School Board member of the last 10 years. I have never met her, but I have watched most meetings and read most of the board docs for years. It is a true shame for APS students that she isn't running for reelection, though I understand and respect her decision. I was just starting to feel some optimism for the direction of the school system. This is definitely a blow.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

ALL school activist groups in Arlington seem to expect everything to be done, just raise the budget allocation from the County. Do everything - the money will appear!

Do everything…. and the money will appear… how about starting with strict residency checks not just once in 8th grade and 5th grade, but every year or every other year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

ALL school activist groups in Arlington seem to expect everything to be done, just raise the budget allocation from the County. Do everything - the money will appear!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm familiar with her, and I think she asked a couple of good questions along the way. But she comes from that peanut-gallery class of activists (APE, CCPTA, union) who are always deriding the board and superintendent until suddenly they find themselves on the board and actually having to make compromises. This is when they find out that the supposedly "easy, logical" solutions they pushed back when they were activists don't have the public buy-in to work. Or they learn that if you try to suddenly discard long-running plans or programs that there will be dramatic consequences you heretofore didn't know or care about, but have to take responsibility for addressing. In other words, it's hard.
Kadera's vote against the last CIP was easy because she was still in activist mode. Now she'll own the next one and it will entail school boundary changes...and possibly closing a neighborhood ES. Then there is the current drama over cellphones. But the biggest issue will be budget...and under Kadera's gavel the board is gearing up to prioritize staff compensation over everything else. In other words, somebody's SpEd service or iPad or sport or whatever WILL get sacrificed so that teachers get a big raise. Ironically, I don't think the union will lower its criticism or activism in response, so it's no-win.

There is no world in which I would put CCPTA and APE in the same bucket.

They are both activist organizations with leaders who lobby and assert APS can do far, far, far better from their activist perch. That is my point, not that they have similar aims.

no they are not similar at all. One is a PTA, the other is a parents rights astro turf lobbying group that hides its funding

CCPTA is not PTA. At all. PTAs from your local school are the real thing, while CCPTA is an activist org with its own agenda. Do you know that the head of CCPTA last year advocated as part of a group looking to close a neighborhood ES that has a PTA in her organization? Certainly not what that one PTA advocated.

nope, sorry, CCPTA serves as the collective representative voice for all APS PTAs/PTSAs

This is correct, CCPTA collectively represents all of the individual member PTAs and is an affiliate of the state and national PTA. Your Arlington school's individual PTA has delegates on the CCPTA. Look at the Virginia PTA's uniform bylaws for more on the connection between individual PTAs and the County Council, state, and national organizations. Specific to Arlington, its CCPTA has always been heavy on the advocacy, and yes does stray at times from the wishes of individual PTAs. Not all PTA leaders are comfortable with the CCPTA's advocacy, and not all PTAs are as active in the CCPTA. Some years the CCPTA is driven by one or two loud voices with a specific agenda and other years not as much. I would not, however, lump the CCPTA and APE into the same bucket as to resources, support, or beliefs. Kadera was on the CCPTA prior to running for school board.

However, whatever Kadera's allegiances were pre-school board, she was incredibly responsive on the board. She was hard working and thoughtful, even when she disagreed. It's hard to say that about many of the members. If by so heavily relying upon the caucus we are losing members who actually DO THE WORK, then the caucus should be reconsidered (along with all the other reasons it should be reconsidered). The only member who is as responsive right now is Turner, who coincidentally was seen as "Team APE" vs. Kadera's "Team CCPTA."