Re: Re: Next time you save a box top, or write a donation check, think a

[Guest guest]

I've not done box tops. But like the 's labels, we get a catalog to sit down with teachers to decide which items we want to purchase from the points we have. For other things, like the partnerships that your school will do (Tom Thumb, Kroger, whatever) they will cut a small check either monthly or quarterly. That then goes into the PTA general fund which is then yearly split up for different portions of the budget. All of those transactions and line items have to be cleared in a general meeting. So the general fund may put (random number, as I'm not VP of Treasury, but VP of Ways and Means) $1000 for continuing ed credits for teachers. All PTAs should have this process. And at any time of the year, as long as you're a PTA member, you can see the budget by requesting it.

Melody

 

Your PTA keeps & spends the money made from box tops? Hmm, interesting.

R.

[Guest guest]

Yes, for years the PTA has sent tons of stuff home it wants my kid to sell for them, but when I ask how it benifits him or any other special needs child, they freak out.  This year is the first time in eight years that I have seen any benefit to my child off what they get --they did purchase new playground equipment.  However, since my son has big issues with lead, I'd like to ask that question --Do you think they really considered that when they purchased???

They have never considered the chemicals they use to clean.  NONE of the windows in the building open, so the building is never really aired out.  When he was in PPCD, I came to drop him off one day and the smell of gas was very evident in the room.  I asked the teachers/aides, and they said they had reported it to the office several times!  Why would a school that is heated with natural gas NOT have carbon monoxide detectors in every room?  I had to buy one for the PPCD classroom.

I stopped joining the PTO after about the second year.  If they can't show me how they benefit these kids, then I'm not buying, and I don't collect the box tops and I do not sell for them.  They treat our kids like they are invisible --until they want them to sell for them.

[Guest guest]

What the PTA does for disabled children is based on your specific PTA.

I'm involved with the PTA at our Early Childhood School which has a

LARGE population of Special Needs and Low Income students. Most

everything we do is for them. Also in Plano, we have SAGE PTA which is

Special and Gifted Education. They offer programs and events for both

the SpEd and Gifted/Talented program and their parents.

If you don't like what they do, then get involved to change it. If you

don't, they won't know your concerns or what to do for the disabled in

their school. After all, they are still parents and still human.

Melody

Yes, for years the PTA has sent tons of stuff home it wants my kid

to sell for them, but when I ask how it benifits him or any other

special needs child, they freak out. This year is the first time in

eight years that I have seen any benefit to my child off what they get

--they did purchase new playground equipment. However, since my son

has big issues with lead, I'd like to ask that question --Do you think

they really considered that when they purchased???

They have never considered the chemicals they use to clean. NONE of

the windows in the building open, so the building is never really aired

out. When he was in PPCD, I came to drop him off one day and the smell

of gas was very evident in the room. I asked the teachers/aides, and

they said they had reported it to the office several times! Why would

a school that is heated with natural gas NOT have carbon monoxide

detectors in every room? I had to buy one for the PPCD classroom.

I stopped joining the PTO after about the second year. If they can't

show me how they benefit these kids, then I'm not buying, and I don't

collect the box tops and I do not sell for them. They treat our kids

like they are invisible --until they want them to sell for them.

[Guest guest]

Melody, I'm not upset with you.  You're great!  But the level of frustration we feel where we are is overwhelming at times.  Thanks for letting me vent!

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure if any of you are aware, but there is a subcommittee that

can be formed at your current PTO/PTA called SAGE. It stands for

Special and Gifted Education. Basically, it works to help those with

either Special Education or Gifted and Talented Education students (and

those that are one in the same). Plano ISD PTA was the first to start

it. They regularly hold trainings for parents, and workshops, as well

as a recent Summer Camp fair where I got info from 7 different places

that do Special Needs Summer camps.

http://planopta.org/SAGE_Resource/

Melody

I realize the PTO isn't responsible for parent education but the

special ed dept is. This year was pathetic as was last year.

I'm friends with the current PTO pres, I know many members as we were

all involved on the board of the Early Childhood PTA. I've been on many

boards and never has it been only one hour a month committment. Anyway

I told her I'd be willing to serve on the board if there was a position

advocating for special ed.

>

> Hi ~

>

> Your PTO isn't responsible for parent education. Also, to "get

involved and make noise" doesn't have to mean a lot of energy. The

board meetings are usually once a month for an hour, and usually the

same handful of moms do it for years. I'm sure they'd love to hear your

input on issues important to special ed.

>

> Diane.

>

[Guest guest]

can u post the special needs camps, please

Re: Re: Next time you save a box top, or write a donation check, think a

I'm not sure if any of you are aware, but there is a subcommittee that

can be formed at your current PTO/PTA called SAGE. It stands for

Special and Gifted Education. Basically, it works to help those with

either Special Education or Gifted and Talented Education students (and

those that are one in the same). Plano ISD PTA was the first to start

it. They regularly hold trainings for parents, and workshops, as well

as a recent Summer Camp fair where I got info from 7 different places

that do Special Needs Summer camps.

http://planopta.org/SAGE_Resource/

Melody

I realize the PTO isn't responsible for parent education but the

special ed dept is. This year was pathetic as was last year.

I'm friends with the current PTO pres, I know many members as we were

all involved on the board of the Early Childhood PTA. I've been on many

boards and never has it been only one hour a month committment. Anyway

I told her I'd be willing to serve on the board if there was a position

advocating for special ed.

>

> Hi ~

>

> Your PTO isn't responsible for parent education. Also, to "get

involved and make noise" doesn't have to mean a lot of energy. The

board meetings are usually once a month for an hour, and usually the

same handful of moms do it for years. I'm sure they'd love to hear your

input on issues important to special ed.

>

> Diane.

>

[Guest guest]

Aret ehy legally required to let us organize this???

[Guest guest]

I apologize for not posting the list sooner. I'm just listing the ones

with websites.

http://www.texaschild.org/

http://itsasensoryworld.com/

http://www.campcamp.org/

http://www.fumcr.com/pages/children_HEROES

http://www.arcdallas.org/

http://plano.gov/Departments/parksandrecreation/Therapeutic%20Recreation/Programs/Pages/default.aspx

(not sure if you have to be a Plano resident to participate)

Melody

 

can u post the special

needs camps, please

-----Original

Message-----

From: Melody Latimer <melodyasparenting>

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

Sent: Thu, Apr 8, 2010 10:21 pm

Subject: Re: Re: Next time you save a box

top, or write a donation check, think a

 

I'm not sure if any of you are aware, but there is a

subcommittee that

can be formed at your current PTO/PTA called SAGE. It stands for

Special and Gifted Education. Basically, it works to help those with

either Special Education or Gifted and Talented Education students (and

those that are one in the same). Plano ISD PTA was the first to start

it. They regularly hold trainings for parents, and workshops, as well

as a recent Summer Camp fair where I got info from 7 different places

that do Special Needs Summer camps.

http://planopta.org/SAGE_Resource/

Melody

 

I realize the PTO isn't responsible for parent education but

the

special ed dept is. This year was pathetic as was last year.

I'm friends with the current PTO pres, I know many members as we were

all involved on the board of the Early Childhood PTA. I've been on many

boards and never has it been only one hour a month committment. Anyway

I told her I'd be willing to serve on the board if there was a position

advocating for special ed.

>

> Hi ~

>

> Your PTO isn't responsible for parent education. Also, to "get

involved and make noise" doesn't have to mean a lot of energy. The

board meetings are usually once a month for an hour, and usually the

same handful of moms do it for years. I'm sure they'd love to hear your

input on issues important to special ed.

>

> Diane.

>