President’s Message September 16, 2024
A big welcome to old and new officers. Most of you have had your first days of school, whether you are new to the school as a kindergarten parent, learning to engage at a new middle or intermediate school or an old pro at a high school. Some kids still wish it was summer and they could stay in bed longer. As a state PTA we are here to help you advocate for not only your child but every child. We are here to support parents, teachers, school staff and students to get the best education possible.
We have resources to help with grants, working with your representatives, communicating with teachers or school boards, and advocating on the local, state, and national level. PTA is the nation’s Number 1 advocacy organization to protect every child’s education, family engagement, and safety for everyone in education, we are actively advocating for Congress to protect our children from gun violence, to strengthen family-school partnership and invest in meaningful engagement, help create a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive learning environment for all students, and to promote a safe and positive online experience for children and youth. National PTA’s advocacy resources and positions can be found HERE.
As a state we are gearing up for the biennial budget discussion to begin in the spring. Watch for more information. In addition, as school districts are looking at referenda to support their school funding, one local council (Wauwatosa) is gathering support for the referenda on their local ballot in the November election. I am working on organizing documents that Wauwatosa Council is using to support the referenda, look for those resources soon.
We have 2 more in-person training events scheduled:
Use this link to RSVP: Sept 21st – L.L. Philips Library in Eau Claire 10am
https://forms.office.com/r/bFGVxQw0ti Sept 26th – Hedberg Library in Janesville 5:30pm – 7:30pm
These training events will have all the basics to start the year off on the correct foot. We will be covering Givebacks basics, IRS requirements, good standing, bylaws and answering all your questions. Please send me an email to info@wisconsinpta.org with questions or specific items you wish for us to answer.
Have you joined your local unit yet? Officers should be the first to join! Membership, programming, and budget are usually the topics of conversation as you move into the beginning of the school year. Remember you must be a member of the unit to vote on unit business.
The WI PTA board of directors is always here to help, answer questions, and to provide guidance. We would love to attend your meeting either in person or virtually. Please send information on when your meetings are happening to info@wisconsin.pta.org
With gratitude and appreciation, have a super September.
–Andi
Read the entire September Newsletter