I find the entire discussion a distraction. Public education should be funded with public dollars, paid for by taxes on all citizens. What people are proposing is effectively a tax, but on a narrow tax base -- PTA funds raised by a small subset of schools. Why should those funds be taxed more than other funds? We should be advocating for higher taxes (or a reallocation of spending) to support schools if we think we don't have enough resources.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm very active in our PTA (not Janney) and have observed many schools EOTP don't really have function PTAs. What are those of use more fortunate supposed to do: Cut a check to the school front office?

I seriously doubt many of those schools have the facility to handle funds transparently and with reasonable accountability.

Yes- the schools under discussion don't even have PTAs so really the entire idea is just theoretical.

Wait, what? Some do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm very active in our PTA (not Janney) and have observed many schools EOTP don't really have function PTAs. What are those of use more fortunate supposed to do: Cut a check to the school front office?

I seriously doubt many of those schools have the facility to handle funds transparently and with reasonable accountability.

Work directly with the teachers or a representative from the parents who can manage that. But then what they need. The first $1,000 is probably the most impactful.

Well, as other threads have mentioned, most WOTP schools already do this.

Someone seems to be advocating that a PTA cut an undesignated check of donor money, which was collected under a system to which laws and fiduciary obligations apply, to an individual unrelated to the organization with no fiduciary responsibility to the donors or the ultimate donee, to do ... whatever. Obviously, that can't legally happen, so the whole Kojo show struck me as peculiar since you would expect someone on the show to understand this! We are a city full of lawyers after all. So instead, these schools help to meet the needs of other schools through other legal means, such as the one you suggested. They reach out, identify a need at the school, and then ask their parents to meet that specific need separately, not through previously donated funds that were given for a totally different purpose.

Fundraising is not for "fun" -- it comes with legal strings attached. It is a big part of why PTAs are 501(c)(3) organizations and have insurance too. Going forward, there are legal ways to handle a "sister school" situation, but until that is set up under the bylaws and with proper voting, etc. etc., the funds are claimed.

Anonymous wrote:I'm very active in our PTA (not Janney) and have observed many schools EOTP don't really have function PTAs. What are those of use more fortunate supposed to do: Cut a check to the school front office?

I seriously doubt many of those schools have the facility to handle funds transparently and with reasonable accountability.

Work directly with the teachers or a representative from the parents who can manage that. But then what they need. The first $1,000 is probably the most impactful.

Anonymous wrote:I'm very active in our PTA (not Janney) and have observed many schools EOTP don't really have function PTAs. What are those of use more fortunate supposed to do: Cut a check to the school front office?

I seriously doubt many of those schools have the facility to handle funds transparently and with reasonable accountability.

Yes- the schools under discussion don't even have PTAs so really the entire idea is just theoretical.

Anonymous wrote:I'm very active in our PTA (not Janney) and have observed many schools EOTP don't really have function PTAs. What are those of use more fortunate supposed to do: Cut a check to the school front office?

I seriously doubt many of those schools have the facility to handle funds transparently and with reasonable accountability.

You ask them what they need - and then you procure it for them (extra uniforms, office supplies, school suplies or back packs for kids).

And actually those schools have more complex reporting requirements than the affluent schools - from Title 1 paperwork to FARMS paperwork documenting how many ounces of whatever a kid got. It's no joke.

I'm very active in our PTA (not Janney) and have observed many schools EOTP don't really have function PTAs. What are those of use more fortunate supposed to do: Cut a check to the school front office?

I seriously doubt many of those schools have the facility to handle funds transparently and with reasonable accountability.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Janney parents already fund less 'privileged' schools. It's called paying 'bigly' DC income, property & sales taxes.

And families at Title I schools also pay taxes. The Janney extension and reno wasn't paid for by the PTA. The teachers and staff aren't paid bonuses by the PTA. Your property values are directly linked to a public school funded by the public.

If you don't want to donate, fine. But don't play the victim.

actually a lot of them don't pay taxes because they don't make enough money. There is real poverty in DC if you haven't noticed. I am not a janney parent and I don't think should feel shamed at all. They did the work, raised the funds and they can do what the want. and yes, if they live IB, they are likely payin more in income tax and property tax than most families in high poverty neighborhoods. doesn't mean anything other than its just a fact.

I agree with this statement. I don't live anywhere near the Janney zone, and I find most Janney parents really annoying. That said, it is their money and they should use it for their children. Poor children get Title 1 funding. I am more worried about schools without title one funding and without a rich PTA.

Based on meeting actual parents IRL or on this board?

That's like my judging all Hill parents for all the crazy stuff I read on those threads or all EOTP parents who complain about their IB school with veiled racist comments (what's the FARMS %? What's the percentage of white kids? What's the OOB %?) while all the while patting themselves on the back for how progressive they are living in their $1M house in Mt Peasant.

+1. I want to ask anyone who says "I find most Janney parents really annoying" how many they have actually met, vs reading anonymous posts on this board. If they have met any, it surely wasn't a representative sample.

+1 I met one annoying, aggressive Janney dad who fit the sterotypes on this board and kept trying to convince me that Janney was the best school option possible for an upper class person in DC when I never even brought up the subject of schools, but the rest have been lovely people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Janney parents already fund less 'privileged' schools. It's called paying 'bigly' DC income, property & sales taxes.

And families at Title I schools also pay taxes. The Janney extension and reno wasn't paid for by the PTA. The teachers and staff aren't paid bonuses by the PTA. Your property values are directly linked to a public school funded by the public.

If you don't want to donate, fine. But don't play the victim.

actually a lot of them don't pay taxes because they don't make enough money. There is real poverty in DC if you haven't noticed. I am not a janney parent and I don't think should feel shamed at all. They did the work, raised the funds and they can do what the want. and yes, if they live IB, they are likely payin more in income tax and property tax than most families in high poverty neighborhoods. doesn't mean anything other than its just a fact.

I agree with this statement. I don't live anywhere near the Janney zone, and I find most Janney parents really annoying. That said, it is their money and they should use it for their children. Poor children get Title 1 funding. I am more worried about schools without title one funding and without a rich PTA.

Based on meeting actual parents IRL or on this board?

That's like my judging all Hill parents for all the crazy stuff I read on those threads or all EOTP parents who complain about their IB school with veiled racist comments (what's the FARMS %? What's the percentage of white kids? What's the OOB %?) while all the while patting themselves on the back for how progressive they are living in their $1M house in Mt Peasant.

+1. I want to ask anyone who says "I find most Janney parents really annoying" how many they have actually met, vs reading anonymous posts on this board. If they have met any, it surely wasn't a representative sample.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Janney parents already fund less 'privileged' schools. It's called paying 'bigly' DC income, property & sales taxes.

And families at Title I schools also pay taxes. The Janney extension and reno wasn't paid for by the PTA. The teachers and staff aren't paid bonuses by the PTA. Your property values are directly linked to a public school funded by the public.

If you don't want to donate, fine. But don't play the victim.

actually a lot of them don't pay taxes because they don't make enough money. There is real poverty in DC if you haven't noticed. I am not a janney parent and I don't think should feel shamed at all. They did the work, raised the funds and they can do what the want. and yes, if they live IB, they are likely payin more in income tax and property tax than most families in high poverty neighborhoods. doesn't mean anything other than its just a fact.

I agree with this statement. I don't live anywhere near the Janney zone, and I find most Janney parents really annoying. That said, it is their money and they should use it for their children. Poor children get Title 1 funding. I am more worried about schools without title one funding and without a rich PTA.

Based on meeting actual parents IRL or on this board?

That's like my judging all Hill parents for all the crazy stuff I read on those threads or all EOTP parents who complain about their IB school with veiled racist comments (what's the FARMS %? What's the percentage of white kids? What's the OOB %?) while all the while patting themselves on the back for how progressive they are living in their $1M house in Mt Peasant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Janney parents already fund less 'privileged' schools. It's called paying 'bigly' DC income, property & sales taxes.

And families at Title I schools also pay taxes. The Janney extension and reno wasn't paid for by the PTA. The teachers and staff aren't paid bonuses by the PTA. Your property values are directly linked to a public school funded by the public.

If you don't want to donate, fine. But don't play the victim.

actually a lot of them don't pay taxes because they don't make enough money. There is real poverty in DC if you haven't noticed. I am not a janney parent and I don't think should feel shamed at all. They did the work, raised the funds and they can do what the want. and yes, if they live IB, they are likely payin more in income tax and property tax than most families in high poverty neighborhoods. doesn't mean anything other than its just a fact.

I agree with this statement. I don't live anywhere near the Janney zone, and I find most Janney parents really annoying. That said, it is their money and they should use it for their children. Poor children get Title 1 funding. I am more worried about schools without title one funding and without a rich PTA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Janney parents already fund less 'privileged' schools. It's called paying 'bigly' DC income, property & sales taxes.

And families at Title I schools also pay taxes. The Janney extension and reno wasn't paid for by the PTA. The teachers and staff aren't paid bonuses by the PTA. Your property values are directly linked to a public school funded by the public.

If you don't want to donate, fine. But don't play the victim.

actually a lot of them don't pay taxes because they don't make enough money. There is real poverty in DC if you haven't noticed. I am not a janney parent and I don't think should feel shamed at all. They did the work, raised the funds and they can do what the want. and yes, if they live IB, they are likely payin more in income tax and property tax than most families in high poverty neighborhoods. doesn't mean anything other than its just a fact.

And they are obviously getting a better education.

I definitely don't think pta groups should give away money without parents knowing from the get go but to say your group is already funding poor people's education? That's a gross thing to say and also? As evident on this forum, their education isn't coming close to the "good" schools in NW.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Janney parents already fund less 'privileged' schools. It's called paying 'bigly' DC income, property & sales taxes.

And families at Title I schools also pay taxes. The Janney extension and reno wasn't paid for by the PTA. The teachers and staff aren't paid bonuses by the PTA. Your property values are directly linked to a public school funded by the public.

If you don't want to donate, fine. But don't play the victim.

actually a lot of them don't pay taxes because they don't make enough money. There is real poverty in DC if you haven't noticed. I am not a janney parent and I don't think should feel shamed at all. They did the work, raised the funds and they can do what the want. and yes, if they live IB, they are likely payin more in income tax and property tax than most families in high poverty neighborhoods. doesn't mean anything other than its just a fact.

Anonymous wrote:Janney parents already fund less 'privileged' schools. It's called paying 'bigly' DC income, property & sales taxes.

How is the view on your high horse?

Anonymous wrote:Janney parents already fund less 'privileged' schools. It's called paying 'bigly' DC income, property & sales taxes.

And families at Title I schools also pay taxes. The Janney extension and reno wasn't paid for by the PTA. The teachers and staff aren't paid bonuses by the PTA. Your property values are directly linked to a public school funded by the public.

If you don't want to donate, fine. But don't play the victim.