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School Supplies/Fundraisers; Going Broke
Topic Started: Sep 13 2006, 09:43 AM (7,046 Views)
plmask
Principal
It was my understanding that the books from the closed elementary schools were used to stock the new 5-6 buildings. The books from the closed middle school was distributed to the remaining middle schools. I know that some of the books from our elementary building were removed as inappropriate for K-4 students and moved to the 5-6 building.
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Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
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plmask
Sep 23 2006, 08:03 AM
It was my understanding that the books from the closed elementary schools were used to stock the new 5-6 buildings.  The books from the closed middle school was distributed to the remaining middle schools.  I know that some of the books from our elementary building were removed as inappropriate for K-4 students and moved to the 5-6 building.

Okay well if the all books from the closed elem... are being used in the 5-6 schools....what about all the k-4 level books? Did those get shipped there as well? How do they determine what inappropriate is?

If the k-4 level books are being used in the 5-6 schools .......that makes no sense. And if they are not.....and were not shipped to another school....that is a complete waste.
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Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
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Principal
Another thing that absolutly burns me about "raising" all this money for the PTA and the schools.

How about putting that money towards bussing for the field trips? I have never seen a district have parents drive to field trips before? And I'm sure i'm gonna catch crap for this one.....but doesn't anyone else things $40.00 to donate is alot? Especially when I had to pay .25c for a pencil? And then didn't the PTA's from certain schools donate large sums of money to the BOE? What the heck was that for?

We used to do 5 bucks per kid in our old school (Redford) and we had a Huge Halloween party at night, where the kids dressed up, got 15 tickets to play games in the gym and win a prize, went to a haunted house inside the school, and went trick or treating at each classroom. The 5th graders all went to camp for 1 week for free! New books in the libraries every year.....and much more.

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sunshine
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Principal
Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
Sep 23 2006, 09:11 AM
plmask
Sep 23 2006, 08:03 AM
It was my understanding that the books from the closed elementary schools were used to stock the new 5-6 buildings.  The books from the closed middle school was distributed to the remaining middle schools.  I know that some of the books from our elementary building were removed as inappropriate for K-4 students and moved to the 5-6 building.

Okay well if the all books from the closed elem... are being used in the 5-6 schools....what about all the k-4 level books? Did those get shipped there as well? How do they determine what inappropriate is?

If the k-4 level books are being used in the 5-6 schools .......that makes no sense. And if they are not.....and were not shipped to another school....that is a complete waste.

It certainly does make sense if you consider the fact that not all learners read on grade level. The 5/6 buildings need reading materials on the lower levels for those students whose ability and learning needs require such material. The books were redistributed from closed buildings to other buildings with that in mind.
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Delynn
Principal
Ok...looking past all that.....what about the K-4 kids that read above grade level? I know Kennedy's library was barely added to, if at all, double the kids with half the books....

My son's teacher sent home a note requesting donations of used books from home....now I know why!
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plmask
Principal
Delynn
Sep 23 2006, 09:12 AM
Ok...looking past all that.....what about the K-4 kids that read above grade level? I know Kennedy's library was barely added to, if at all, double the kids with half the books....

My son's teacher sent home a note requesting donations of used books from home....now I know why!

My guess is that she wanted books donated to her classroom library.
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sunshine
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Delynn
Sep 23 2006, 10:12 AM
Ok...looking past all that.....what about the K-4 kids that read above grade level? I know Kennedy's library was barely added to, if at all, double the kids with half the books....

My son's teacher sent home a note requesting donations of used books from home....now I know why!

Absolutely! The needs of all learners should have been considered when decisions about redistribution were considered. I was remiss in only addressing the needs of a certain population. Hopefully, our buildings are equipped to meet the reading needs and interests of all students.
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plmask
Principal
Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
Sep 23 2006, 08:22 AM
Another thing that absolutly burns me about "raising" all this money for the PTA and the schools.

How about putting that money towards bussing for the field trips? I have never seen a district have parents drive to field trips before? And I'm sure i'm gonna catch crap for this one.....but doesn't anyone else things $40.00 to donate is alot? Especially when I had to pay .25c for a pencil? And then didn't the PTA's from certain schools donate large sums of money to the BOE? What the heck was that for?

We used to do 5 bucks per kid in our old school (Redford) and we had a Huge Halloween party at night, where the kids dressed up, got 15 tickets to play games in the gym and win a prize, went to a haunted house inside the school, and went trick or treating at each classroom. The 5th graders all went to camp for 1 week for free! New books in the libraries every year.....and much more.

$40.00 is a huge amount for a field trip! What on earth is that for?
I have worked in districts where buses were not available for field trips at all. We choose to have parent drivers to allow for flexibility in times and reduce the cost of the field trip.
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plmask
Principal
Delynn
Sep 23 2006, 09:12 AM
Ok...looking past all that.....what about the K-4 kids that read above grade level? I know Kennedy's library was barely added to, if at all, double the kids with half the books....

My son's teacher sent home a note requesting donations of used books from home....now I know why!

There are books for those that read above grade level. When I said material that was inappropriate for k-4, I meant subject matter, not reading level.
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LPS Customer
Principal
Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
Sep 23 2006, 09:22 AM
Another thing that absolutly burns me about "raising" all this money for the PTA and the schools.

How about putting that money towards bussing for the field trips? I have never seen a district have parents drive to field trips before? And I'm sure i'm gonna catch crap for this one.....but doesn't anyone else things $40.00 to donate is alot? Especially when I had to pay .25c for a pencil? And then didn't the PTA's from certain schools donate large sums of money to the BOE? What the heck was that for?

We used to do 5 bucks per kid in our old school (Redford) and we had a Huge Halloween party at night, where the kids dressed up, got 15 tickets to play games in the gym and win a prize, went to a haunted house inside the school, and went trick or treating at each classroom. The 5th graders all went to camp for 1 week for free! New books in the libraries every year.....and much more.

Ilive...

Last year's charges for busses/drivers:

$37.80 per driver hour
$9.00 portal fee
$.91 per mile over 25 miles one way

I think that's why the PTA is adverse to funding mass amounts of field trips. It's too darn expensive!!! Thank you, LPS.

And no, our school' s PTA did not send a penny to the BOE (I would never sign a check for that!)
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Grant1
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We have just begun to fight!
When large sums are given to the district from a school PTA it is because they are donating it for a designated purchase ( such as books, playground equip, classroom PA's, etc...

They use the purchasing offices through the district to obtain these items so they are actually bought by the the schools, become school property, and hence thier responsibility for upkeep, maintenance, and replacement if necessary.
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snickers420
2nd Grade
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Delynn
Sep 23 2006, 09:12 AM
Ok...looking past all that.....what about the K-4 kids that read above grade level? I know Kennedy's library was barely added to, if at all, double the kids with half the books....

My son's teacher sent home a note requesting donations of used books from home....now I know why!

My daughter also got a note from Roosevelt to send in books. I don't know why because her old school Adams sent their books to a school in Washington. What sense does that make?
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Hippo
Principal
Shelly
Sep 21 2006, 09:10 PM
PTA is a volunteer group that helps support activites for all the children in school.  They are not a political group with a hidden agenda but  a devoted group of Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Caregivers and Staff that go the extra mile for ALL  the children.  If you have a question or comment about the PTA budget, please direct it to a member of your executive board.  Unsure about what $500 for bagels is??  Ask..  if you choose not to participate in the fundraiser - no problem - if your child is disappointed about not receiving a "gift" -  welcome to life and treat it as a life lesson.  If you choose not to join PTA, no problem, your child will still receive the field trip reimbursement, assemblies, bookfairs, donut and muffin days and a great school experience.  As far as renting instruments, I still have the flute I rented in elementary school - a great investment considering my daughter at Emerson is playing it also!

Shelly,

Did you re-read your post after you wrote it? You say the PTA is not a political group with a hidden agenda. There are reams of data (even posted on this site) showing the political agenda of the PTA.

The PTA relies on Market Day, Frankemuth, Little Ceasers, etc for funding. I am sure if I looked hard enough, I could find donations from these companies to the PTAs. The PTA uses class time and school resources to promote their fundraising efforts and their agenda. I can't stop the school from participating in these things. I can't get a teacher to teach my child while the rest of the kids are in the gym getting a propaganda lesson. If the PTA at each school is really just a volunteer group that helps support activities for all children, then why do they need to be part of the National PTA? (This is a serious question) Why not just have a group that only supports the school and the activities? Why do we need to be involved in state and local and federal politics? (My answer to this would be that there are members of the PTA that have something personal to gain from being involved).

People are upset because the PTA makes claims like yours (that it is just a group that is there for the kids) and then they see the PTA supporting causes that have nothing to do with "Just helping the kids". We see the PTA supporting the MEA, NEA and their own agenda. We see the PTA USING CHILDREN TO RAISE MONEY FOR PRIVATE CORPORTATIONS.

You see using kids to promote your agenda as bringing a greater good for all. I see it as manipulation of kids for something they may or may not support. (By the way, making everyone work for the greater good is called Socialism) (Yes, I understand that no one is forced to sell, but they are forced to attend the assemblies, and they are forced to bring home the material, and every taxpayer is forced to fund the distribution of the materials and the goods that are sold)

I ask you to look at it this way: If Bright House came into the school, and offered $50 for each new account that the kids could sign up, would you let them? If Standard Federal offered $50 for each checking account that a kid could get someone to open would you allow that? Where do you draw the line? When does it become exploitation of kids, and no longer part of school?

What really tee'd me off was your comment of "If your child is disappointed about not receiving a "gift" - welcome to life and treat it as a life lesson". You don't seem to see the hypocrisy in your statement. Are the kids in school to learn, or to sell things for the PTA and private companies? Where do you draw the line? When does it become too much? I guess I should teach my kids that the PTA is a powerful political force that has convinced the school administration that their way is the only way, and that the kids are the pawns of the school while they are there. (Yes that statement is extreme, and over the top, and far from a complete truth, but I made it to express the level of my frustration).

Yes, I am a member of the PTA, and a former member of the MEA and NEA, so I think I have a right to make these statements.
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gr1
Principal
I don't believe that the mom's and dad's who volunteered for their schools local PTA unit are heavily vested in the National and State PTA positions on most legislative issues.

Those who I know, including myself, are more interested in simply helping their kids school. As a PTA member and volunteer. I am more concerned with the things Shelley described than what National PTA is doing this week. I will venture to say that it is the case with most of the parents who have stepped up to the plate to volunteer for their kids school via PTA.

While I agree that the fundraisers are a huge pain, I hate selling the stuff and I hate organizing them even more, they are the vehicle by which things happen for our kids. Our PTA assists with Field Trips, pays for Assemblies, Teachers get a classroom grant, this year we are purchasing the Weekly Readers for all the classrooms which will be using them. Nowhere in our budget is a line item for extra money (other than Membership Dues) to go to National or State PTA, any sort of union or private corporation.


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Hippo
Principal
gr1
Sep 26 2006, 11:32 AM
I don't believe that the mom's and dad's who volunteered for their schools local PTA unit are heavily vested in the National and State PTA positions on most legislative issues.

Those who I know, including myself, are more interested in simply helping their kids school. As a PTA member and volunteer. I am more concerned with the things Shelley described than what National PTA is doing this week. I will venture to say that it is the case with most of the parents who have stepped up to the plate to volunteer for their kids school via PTA.

While I agree that the fundraisers are a huge pain, I hate selling the stuff and I hate organizing them even more, they are the vehicle by which things happen for our kids. Our PTA assists with Field Trips, pays for Assemblies, Teachers get a classroom grant, this year we are purchasing the Weekly Readers for all the classrooms which will be using them. Nowhere in our budget is a line item for extra money (other than Membership Dues) to go to National or State PTA, any sort of union or private corporation.

That is exactly my point! Why do we need the National PTA? Can't we accomplish these things on our own?

IN MY OPINION, most parents are willing to help at the school, but don't care about the PTA's National Agenda. Why support the national agenda?

Little Ceasers, Frankenmuth, et al are using us to further their company's goals. Why do we allow our kids to work for a pittance? Why do we need to get involved in this? Aren't there other ways to get funding?

What about Script? While this still promotes individual firms, it would not involve "selling" by our kids. The script would be handled by the PTA, and offered year round. No time out of class for pep rallys, no overpriced items, no weekly marketday fliers, etc.

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