Tip of the Week – February 10
Fast Approaching! Final PTA and the Law Opportunity for the Year Each PTA is required to do certain things as part of the standards of affiliation. Item number 11 is about the annual training requirement. It says: “Annually, at least one elected officer attends PTA and the Law, and all other elected officers attend at…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA Testifies in Support of Simple Majority for Bonds
Parent Advocate Liz Nord shared her support for HB 1226, a bill that would authorize simple majority for bonds if Washington state voters approved a constitutional amendment in the next general election. Quite a discussion was had regarding the concept that HJR 4200 could run prior to the policy bill. Listen here. Unfortunately, the bill…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Tip of the Week – February 3
Make sure your local PTA or council’s nominating committee is elected and up and running The nominating committee is arguably the most important committee for your PTA. The committee’s charge, to select candidates to fill officer positions, is key to the success and sustainability of your PTA. Committee members must maintain confidentiality and work to…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA Advocate Testifies
Speaking in favor of a bill that would phase in funding to support additional school nurses, counselors, psychiatrists and social workers, WSPTA Advocacy Committee member Mike Uehara-Bingen urged legislators to pass SHB 1664. Listen to Mike’s testimony here.
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Testimony by WSPTA Advocates
Monday, January 31, was a big day for testimony on Washington State PTA’s legislative priorities, spanning topics of enrollment stabilization, increasing school staffing, and funding school seismic safety upgrades. Listen here as WSPTA parent advocates spoke in favor of these bills: Natalya Yudkovsky on SB 5563, stabilizing funding due to enrollment decline (listen here); Heidi…
Tip of the Week – January 27
Membership Awards – Don’t Miss Out There are two types of membership awards – membership growth awards and membership achievement awards. Membership growth awards are automatically calculated and awarded to PTAs that reach the required criteria levels for bronze, silver, gold or platinum recognition. Your PTA has already done the important work of gaining the…
Category:
Leadership
Tip of the Week – January 20
Who Can Be A Member? PTA membership is not limited to parents and teachers at your school. Any person choosing to support students is eligible for PTA membership. This may include grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors, local business owners, school board members, and other community members. Membership is a terrific way to show support of…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA testifies in favor of safe storage of firearms and medications
Safe storage of firearms and medications is the topic of HB 1759. Dr. Gwen Loosmore testified in favor of the bill and encouraged the Legislature to adopt the measure that will help districts share information with students and families through websites and social media on this important topic.
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Speaks in Favor of HB 1699
Former WSPTA President Michelle Nims kicked off a panel of speakers in favor of HB 1699 in the House Appropriations Committee January 20. The bill is designed as a short-term approach to helping address the serious workforce shortages facing our schools.
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Student Voices Testify for Financial Literacy
At the request of Washington State PTA, two students testified January 18 in favor of financial literacy in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee. Jackson Adams is a student in the Walla Walla School District and Kellen Hoard is a student in the Northshore School District. Hear their testimony here and here. Both students…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative