As part of our by-laws, a parent who wants to be involved in any of our HSA sponsored functions, including class parents, must be active members. That means dues ($10) must be paid...period.
Class parents are given HSA monies for class parties and the HSA also subsidizes buses for class trips. So, by being part of these functions, a person is using HSA funds and our board thinks that is only fair that the parents who do these things be members.
Our present board is now even considering issuing membership cards to families who are active members and allowing them to attend functions for free while non-member families will be asked to pay.
Should be an interesting year...

Our school actually was sued over this issue, but nothing ever came of it because the family moved out of town. You'd think they'd have addressed it after that, but ....

It was explained to me by OUR PTA that it had to do with liability issues and because it was a "PTA sponsored" program only PTA members could be on the "committee', or something ridiculous like that. I didn't push it - as MichelleB knows my PTA chapter locally and regionally is a bit--wacky.

I did however, bring the issue up with the principal as an FYI. I asked why the PTA sponsors the program, and know one really knows--it's supposed it just made sense--they have the manpower and willingness to organize and administer it. I explained while I personally had a problem with it but could live with it, that it could be problematic at some time, as it could be construed as discriminatory. What if you don't follow PTA philosophies--you should have to pay dues and support it in order to even be considered as a class parent? In our school there is NEVER a lack of sign ups, and it is competitive. Usually it's the same faces, though on occasion you get lucky (I did one year). She was a little surprised (she's new), and open to the ideology, but in the end it is what it is.

Personally I don't buy the liability issue. The school has insurance, plus none of these parents in the PTA go through any sort of extra background checks. As far as the "directory" goes, all parents in our school are given a waiver to sign with the back to school packet of forms--and it mentions nothing about the PTA. It's not as though this information gets sold or released to third parties outside the school--it's used for things like the phone tree with school closings. It IS the school's responsibility to let the student body know that school is cancelled, our PTA does it as a nicety. When I went to school in upstate NY we had no phone chain--you listened to the radio. You can here, but as the listening area is massive (just outside NYC), you could wait FOREVER for your school to come up again if you miss it! I feel there should also be a phone number you can call as most offices have.

But I digress . This is one of those PTA things I think depends on the chapter. I know plenty of PTAs that handle this but don't require parents to be members. I'm not a lawyer, but it does seem to me that you could push the issue and easily win, especially if the class parent, as most do, handles things like parties and field trips.

I've heard the ham story too but the reason the end was cut off was because the oven tilted and it kept the ham from rolling away! [img]smile.gif[/img]
I too am glad that a compromise was able to be made. I am curious though, of all the reasons I've heard about why someone doesn't join the PTA, I am very perplexed about your reason...

yes, not joining is a personal reason due to the what goes on at the Pre-K/K PTA

What does that mean? I am genuinely confused. Is it all day Kindergarten resolutions or immunizations (off the top of my head the only ones that could relate to pre-K/K) :confused:

Everytime we discuss one of these "we've always done it this way" tales, I think of the old ham story:

A young wife is cooking ham and cuts off the end of the ham and throws it away before putting the ham in the pan. Husband asks why and she explains you have to, that her mother always did it that way.

Curious, he asks the mother-in-law and gets a similar answer. Later he asks the grandmother and is eventually told: "When we were first married, the pot we had was too small, so I had to cut the end off of the ham to make it fit." 40 years and two generations later, the family is still following this "rule"!

I just wonder how many of our rules and policies had similar origins!

[ 09-14-2004, 06:43 PM: Message edited by: JHB ]

I'm glad you found a solution you can live with - although I find the school's rationale to be bizarre.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records. However, it specifically says that schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance.

The schools have to notify families of this and give them an opportunity to refuse disclosure. Many districts handle it by putting this fact in the school handbook. Those who want the information kept private usually have 10 days or so to file that request in writing.

So it looks like you are dealing with a school or district policy rather than a confidentiality law.

It would be interesting to call the school and ask what student data is publicly available as "directory information" as per FERPA.

[ 09-14-2004, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: JHB ]

Sorry about the delay in getting back here!!

Thank you all so much for your responses, they are so helpful.

Well, as it turns out, I am now my kindergarteners Class Mom. Her teacher called today and asked. I did explain to her my feelings regarding having to join the PTA (yes, not joining is a personal reason due to the what goes on at the Pre-K/K PTA). However, after speaking with the teacher, I did think to myself that I was being selfish and put my own personal reasons aside. I agreed to pay the membership dues. The teacher told me, just pay the dues and don't go to any meetings. That the PTA is not involved with the Class Mothers. So, i am assumming maybe it is a liabilty issue??

The only reason you must be a PTA member is the phone list. I spoke with the Principal and he stated this and the "this is just how it has always been done'. I called central administration and there was no one there who could help me further. I was told they do not get involved with PTA issues, I would need to talk with the Principal of the school.

Now, the only thing the PTA does for the Class Mothers (don't get me wrong, not knocking it!! It's really sweet!!) is a Class Mother Tea near the end of the year. Other than this and the Phone List, there is no relationship. The Class Mothers 'job' is to only do class parties, teacher's gifts, etc & put together these events. There is no involvement in any other aspect.

This is what is really funny, my DD's teacher said she would split the call list into 3 parts and give them to volunteers. Not one word about them being members of the PTA. Will have to check on this though.

All in all, I still feel this policy isn't right. I did agree to join the PTA so that i could check into this further. If I do not have any dealings with the PTA I will THEN bring it to the attention of the school administration because, like said above, maybe it's time for a change!!

Thanks!

Kim

PS - my OP was incorrect, I feel it IS the school's job to call parents with early closings only. For delayed openings, there is really no need for phones calls. Our local TV & radio stations run these and that, imho, is a parent's responibilty to check.