First, there is no policy banning parent organizations of any type. Del Valle ISD works very hard to involve parents. We would not have National Blue Ribbon Schools, Exemplary and Recognized campuses, a Recognized District and many award winning principals if we didn’t. The District employed a community liaison for each campus years ago to work solely on parental involvement.

Second, Mr. Blanchard’s only issues with PTA has been and still is the fees that are required to be a member of a school organization and the fact that PTA lobbies for topics that may no be in line with the philosophy of the district’s.

Finally, let me give you some history. Del Valle ISD had PTA for a number of years. It was disbanded for the reasons stated above.

The District then implemented PTO and has been very pleased with this organization. The only reason the campuses disbanded PTO last year was in an attempt to change the look of parental involvement on the campuses and make everyone feel welcome regardless if they want to participate in a fundraiser or not. The PTO’s were told they must obtain a 501 c3 for fundraising activities. We have also had many unfortunate issues with money being stolen from the campus organization which of course caused negative publicity. Parents did not want to complete the forms or be responsible for the 501 c3 and did not always want to particpate in a fundraiser. We just want parents to be involved! Even though a PTO does not require these elements it had evolved into this feeling from parents.

The Parental Involvement Committees were put in place just to try a new approach to get more parents involved. They mirror a PTO. The funds are tracked through the business office. Our parental involvement numbers have actually increased this year.

Mr. Blanchard has stated that the campus parental involvement committee, teachers and principal must make the final decision for what the campus wants for an organization. He still believes that it is not right for parents to have to pay to belong and that it causes less parental involvement. He still has the concern with the lobbying efforts by PTA.

The press is hearing from a group of disgruntled parents that may have other agendas. Mr. Blanchard conducts parent coffee chats and attends parent meetings at campuses regularly. The overwhelming majority of parents have voiced their wish to stay with the current system. The final decision will be made on the campus.