Parents starting local PTA

BY LINDSEY BRIGHT
Published on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 2:09 PM MDT

Sidney Herald

It has been a long time - since 1994 or '95 - that Sidney had a Parent Teacher Association (PTA), but two parents have decided that it is as good a time as any to start one up again.

"The schools, parents, the school board need to work together," Leah Norby, parent to school children, said. "We are working toward the same thing; the goal is the children."

Norby said that when researching different parent organizations, many of them only included parents. Norby believes that working together, parents and teachers and administration, is the way to really help the children.

Tami Edwards feels the same way and is working with Norby to get a PTA started in Sidney.

"We don't want to go to the school with just problems," Edwards said. "We want to help think of solutions and actively help."

Lack of supervision on the playground is what got both Edwards and Norby to begin thinking of forming the PTA.

"We both felt that there weren't enough people to watch the children," Edwards said. They did not want to go to the school only with a problem, but to offer to help fix the problem. For example, in this instance, having parents volunteer to supervise recess on a rotating schedule.

"It's tough for both of us, teachers and parents," Norby said. "We both have hard and thankless jobs. But if we could come together and appreciate each other, maybe it would be easier for all of us."

In addition to having school administration and teacher involvement, another plus of the PTA is that every organization, no matter how small, is linked in to a bigger state and national organization.

"We will have a place in the organization," Norby said. "We'll fight for our schools; and on a national level, the PTA will fight for us."

"And all of us will be fighting for the children," Edwards added.

The last Sidney PTA did not have a long duration, and neither Norby nor Edwards know the reasons for its dissolution. However, they think the reason might have been that the members were all parents of high school students. When their children graduated, the PTA dissolved.

"I think it really starts in the elementary schools," Edwards said. "That way, we will grow with the kids, be with them throughout. It is important to keep this organization revitalized, so it won't die when our kids graduate."

Edwards and Norby urge any interested parents, teachers, administrators or people that simply care about today's youth to come to the meeting and get involved.

"These kids are who we are handing our future to," Norby said.

Both women hope to get the PTA up and running before summer break, so the organization will be well-functioning by next fall. Fee to become a member is only $10 and meetings will take place weekly on Thursdays, 5 p.m. at the R.O.I. building.

Questions can be directed to Edwards by cell, 488-8966, or home phone, 489-7598; or to Norby by cell, 488-5195, or home phone, 489-5195.

"It would be awesome to have someone come to one meeting if that's all a person is able to make," Norby said. "But it would be great to have people who are actively involved."

reporter@sidneyherald.com

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Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of the Sidney Herald.

Rose M. wrote on Mar 30, 2008 12:27 AM:

" Hats off to both of you! I am proud of the fact that you want a solution to what sounds to be a problem (recess) for a while now. I have been an active member of PTA since my daughter was in kinder (now in 5th), and decided to become an officer. It has been the most rewarding and challening postion I could have ever imaged. As officers of your PTA you will have many opportunities to attend seminars and classes on topics dealing with schools, children, parents and teachers. The more officers you have for your PTA the more members you'll have educated on topics that not only one family may be dealing with, but serveral. It's always hard to get parents to attend after a long day of work, so what worked for us is a monthly newletters with information about the school's sctivites for that month, test dates, fundraising info. etc... and we opt. to have monthly meetings instead of weekly because our attendence wasn't so good. You need a minium of 10 to conduct a meeting and at times we didn't even get that. Plus now we get the children involved so the parents attend as well. We chose a different grade level to perform at our monthly meetings, we have speakers, the choir sings, etc... I volunteer at my daughter's elementary and plan to do the same next year when she enters middle school. The time when they most need us and parents seem to sadly not be so involved as they do when their children enter high school. Make it fun for them to want to attend and be involved. Good Luck to you both.
Texas PTA parent/volunteer/officer
"

Beth Verlanic wrote on Mar 27, 2008 9:56 AM:

" Leah and Tami,
Thank you for all your hard work in getting the PTA in Sidney back up and functioning. There are many benefits that PTA can provide that are not available from a PTO. Leadership training training, programs with templates on how to implement, reduced rates on liability and officer insurance, financial management tips, and ongoing support from your State Board are just a few. And, to address where the membership dues go -- for this unit, the bulk of those dues, 50% to be exact will stay in the Sidney. Of the remaining dues, an additional $3.25 will stay in Montana. Again, thank you to all who participate in PTA and begin advocating for everychild with onevoice. Beth Verlanic, MT PTA President "

Joy wrote on Mar 26, 2008 8:17 PM:

" For Fundraising how come you can't keep it in the school and ask parents if they do any kind of Fundraising. I sale Mary Kay, and I sure others make things that they would like to sale. Why not just Sale Tables out and have the Book Fair the same night along with Food. You make lots of money off of Hot Dog and chips, soda ect...Have the teachers do a talent show also that brings in a big group and have to showing if it becomes that big. Do it every year that why you give the kids parent involved and can afford to pay the dues and so on... "

PTA Parent wrote on Mar 26, 2008 12:43 PM:

" By joining PTA your parents can become part of a nationwide association that provides materials and resources to every member. Parents are paying $7 to $20 every year for their child to join Scouts and they never question it. None of that money even stays with the troop! Where else can you join a national recognized association for $5 and a portion of that stays in your own school and in your own state?
As an independent parent group, where do you turn when you need help or are having a problem? As a PTA you will receive assistance from your state PTA or even national PTA if you ask.

PTA - the A stands for All Children
PTO - the O stands for your own children "

Merry in CA wrote on Mar 20, 2008 8:07 AM:

" But why a PTA and not a PTO? A huge chunk of those membership dues will be going outside of your district. We thought all the so-called support sounded good, too. but there was very little and we hardly used any of it. So we became an independent PTO. We do exactly the same stuff but we lowered dues way down and still wind up with more money. "

Parent wrote on Mar 19, 2008 9:21 AM:

" There seems to be a lot of problems on the playground at recess. If you drive by the school, you see teachers standing visiting, so how are they seeing everything that going on??? They need to be moving around the playground and watching the children. This is definitely a wonderful thing. Let's keep it going! "

Sidney Parent wrote on Mar 18, 2008 9:30 PM:

" Unfortunately our schools do not seem very interested in working together with the parents. Starting a PTA can be done with or without the blessing of the school administration. We need to get together and work "with" our schools. Parental involvement is always a good thing, and it will keep our schools fair & just. Thank you Leah & Tami! "

Parent wrote on Mar 18, 2008 3:17 PM:

" We are new here and inquired about PTA for our schools at the elementary level. I was told it did not go very well and that the school just isn't interested. I even offered to do all of the leg work to get it started. Did that suddenly change or has anyone approached the school for their opinion?
Point is good luck, I definitely think there is a need and I hope that you get the backing I didn't. "

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