PTA Survey Results

PTA Survey Responses and Next Steps

Thank you to the 85 people who took time to share your thoughts on the PTA 2008-2009 survey. We wanted to get a pulse of what is important to the community and you did that for us. Community survey responses were varied and sometimes they conflicted with one another because individually our priorities are different even as we collectively share the same goal.

If you would like more detailed information about what the PTA already has in place and the identified next steps, view PTA Survey Responses and Next Steps. If you would like to view the actual survey results, click here.

The responses essentially fell into these categories:
1. More frequent communication, better visibility of PTA event and meetings
2. Website utility, friendliness, and up-to-date information
3. Future of fundraising
4. School community/volunteerism
5. Facilities/Programs

1. Communication: Meeting notices, agendas and topics will continue to be in Newsnotes and posted in the buildings, and we will continue to offer childcare at the meetings. We are not able to utilize the school list serve for meeting reminders; however a reader board outside of the school building would be a wonderful addition, and we are looking for someone to specifically drive that conversation and run the project.

2. Website: Parents with professional web experience volunteer their time and skills, and they work with the media teachers Amy Jo Wick and Jessica Schlosser to maintain and improve the website. The current website leaves much to be desired. This group is meeting in the next week and will keep the community updated on their plans. The PTA does not own nor maintain the website, and the group’s inherent challenge is working within PPS constraints.

3. Future of fundraising: Money raised goes back into the classroom, provides scholarships, and supports curriculum and instruction. We heard that fundraising, while an unfortunate reality in our public schools, has it challenges and by some is outright disliked. The future of fundraising is something we will be closely examining, and we want you to be part of the conversation. What do you want fundraising to look like, what fundraisers would you support, and how often should we have them? Fundraising will be the topic at both the January 21 and February 18 PTA meetings.

4. School community/volunteerism: We will be exploring the structure of the PTA and most likely create new committees to address some issues raised such as mentoring new families, creating age level events and more school-wide community events. We are richer for the diversity and different opinions brought to the table so we will provide avenues for that to happen more often. Green School status, recycling and sustainability continue to be significant issues as well. A committee began working last year with Dawn Corliss and teachers to examine current practices and to implement new ones, and this was a topic at the November 19 PTA meeting.

5. Facilities/Programs: Space and curriculum offerings were a clearly identified priority, especially maintaining Spanish and more art. The PTA will continue to raise these issues at Site Council. The PTA’s charges are different than the Foundation’s charges, and all three parent organizations work together to address school community issues. A lack of a covered area remains a significant concern, and while we anticipate a new building at some unknown future date and the grant writing committee is targeting a covered area, we welcome a parent to step up and coordinate efforts and speed the process along.

If you would like more detailed information about what the PTA has been doing and the PTA’s next steps, view PTA Survey Responses and Next Steps. If you would like to view the actual survey results, these are posted as well.

In addition, you can always find a copy of the PTA Budget and PTA Minutes on the school website and on hard copy on the PTA bulletin board in the main lobby.

If you want to make a difference in any of these areas, or want to spearhead another topic, please let any board member know (we are in the school directory) or contact me directly. We’ll get you plugged in, and we would appreciate the investment of your time and talents!

Sincerely,
Lisa Amato
PTA President