I want to thank everyone for their input. There are certainly points that I can agree with from each post. I do feel like we should have done more on this issue and that we perhaps did a disservice to the students and teachers by not being more proactive. At least I have another chance at doing something about this issue as it definitely isn't going to just go away.

I'm not sure that our group would be comfortable acting as an advocacy group but I do tend to think that if it isn't up my alley that it must not be for the group and I know that is something I need to work on. So thanks, MarylandMom, for your advice. I still have a lot to learn and appreciate your input and perspective.

That being said, I also agree with Tim who said "There are intelligent, really well-intentioned people who feel like the advocacy role you define can get in the way of very important involvement and community goals. And that the political advocacy should be done through another forum of/for parents (who choose to get involved there)."

Regardless, the waiver was of course passed again and seemed to be swept under the rug as quickly as possible. The last line of the state regulation says that they are to notify the same people as to the outcome of the waiver being passed. However, after allowing some time to go by to see if they would notify us, I had to actively seek out the answer.

The school district has invited all of the PTO officers to a meeting tonight but haven't said what it is regarding. I am fairly certain it has nothing to do with the waiver. But if I have the opportunity I will probably inquire as to why we weren't notified.

Tara

While there's nothing legally to prevent a parent group from taking a position on something like this, the group needs to think long and hard if advocacy is the role they want.

If the group's goal is represent all the families/students and if the issue is a controversial one with some for/some against, then my opinion is that the PTO/PTA should remain neutral. It should serve as a communication channel, but not take a position.

Individual parents, however, can certainly take a position.

As I said, it's not that the PTO/PTA cannot take a position, but you need to be very clear that it's the group's choice before doing so.

By the way, I personally would not be involved in a PTO that merely served as an "ATM for the school". Yes, fundraising is more important to some than others. But the ones I've seen have focused on volunteerism, parent involvement, school enrichment. Fundraising is one tool to help make some of those things happen.

MarylandMom;140144 wrote: While a little late in chiming in here, I have to say this:

PTAs and PTOs are not just ATMs and support groups...they should be advocacy groups

Advocacy and activism aren't for everyone...just like leadership and decision-making aren't either. If this isn't up your alley, it may fit someone else in your group like a glove. Let the natural activists take up the arms - just like leaders plan and lead, the creative thinkers plan and pull off great activities, the doers volunteer at school, and the bean-counters, well, they count the beans. Just don't pass up an opportunity for your group to be a voice for others who may not have discovered theirs yet.

Hi MarylandMom -

Thanks for the good opinions. I'd restate your last point this way:

"Advocacy and activism aren't for every group...just like leadership and decision-making aren't either. If this isn't up your group's alley, it may fit another group like a glove."

I can definitely see where some groups choose to have a strong role in advocating, as you define it. But I can equally see how -- for some groups -- that wouldn't be a fit for what they're about. And that doesn't at all make them just an "ATM for the school." There's a ton of powerful work (that you're dismissing) between being "just an ATM" and being this advocacy group that fits your exact proscription of what that must mean.

There are intelligent, really well-intentioned people who feel like the advocacy role you define can get in the way of very important involvement and community goals. And that the political advocacy should be done through another forum of/for parents (who choose to get involved there).

Tim

While a little late in chiming in here, I have to say this:

PTAs and PTOs are not just ATMs and support groups...they should be advocacy groups for the children of your respective schools. Apparently, because the state requires notification to be given to your group, someone else feels the same way also ...so that parents have another means of staying informed (besides relying on district and school communications) and taking (banded, group) action if necessary.

Don't just pass along the info simply because it was (perhaps begrudgingly) passed along to you. Help inform your parents as to what it means for the school and what it can mean for the children in those classrooms. Talk to the teachers who have been affected by these waivers and find out what it meant for instruction in their classrooms. What could it mean for instruction if the waiver were expanded to include additional students, and how difficult would that be for the district to accomplish since no one has raised a stink about it all this time?

Invite a representative from the school district to address this topic (answer questions, explain it, etc.) at one of your meetings (which gives that person an opportunity to hear first hand what parents think/feel about it as well). And if a number of your parents have strong feelings about this, put it to a vote of the membership as to whether or not they can organize and go to the BOE meetings with the full official backing of your group.

Doing this will help send the message that:
A) your group is, in fact, a principled advocate for the children of your school & district
your group cares about and is aware of (keeping an eye on) things that go on not just in your school, but at the district level as well
C) your teachers can count on your group to back them on the "big stuff" (even if you don't agree with other things)

Advocacy and activism aren't for everyone...just like leadership and decision-making aren't either. If this isn't up your alley, it may fit someone else in your group like a glove. Let the natural activists take up the arms - just like leaders plan and lead, the creative thinkers plan and pull off great activities, the doers volunteer at school, and the bean-counters, well, they count the beans. Just don't pass up an opportunity for your group to be a voice for others who may not have discovered theirs yet.

Wow! You are amazing! Thank you so much for finding that for me. While it is too late to do anything this year, at least we can be pro-active next year and have something ready to go to our members that will inform them of what is taking place.

I feel much better knowing that the PTO can be of some assistance by informing the people that it affects but at the same time we don't have to get directly involved with the outcome. Not that I don't think the class sizes should stay within the state requirements. Baby steps. This year we found out what the deal was. Next year we can use the methods of communication that are available to us to inform parents. Then if it continues beyond that maybe we can get more involved. By then we should have a strong group of parent representatives working together towards a common goal.

Thanks again for all of your input and suggestions!

My opinion is that if your state made the effort to identify parent groups as a required channel of public disclosure, the notice should be forwarded to your membership.

Note - I don't think the PTO should take a position on this, but merely act as a communication channel.

Members receiving the information might be as bewildered are you are as to "why", so I'd include a note that the state requires the district to use the parent group as one means of informing the public. You are merely passing it on. The notice itself should have information on avenues to respond/comment. But you might want to draw attention to that part and be clear it's not YOU or a PTO meeting that will be the opportunity.