Please join us in celebrating all Council REFLECTIONS entries and winners that were sent to state.  "Together We Can" make a difference!   Let's celebrate their talents and successes together and view their true works of art. 

Your Formal Invitation        

Texas PTA Environmental Awareness Program  

If you have questions please contact:

March is a great time to appoint a special purchase committee if one has not already been formed.  

1. The PTA treasurer should be examining each line item in the budget and beginning to move residual funds into a special purchase expense line item.  
2. The committee begins by gathering input from parents, teachers and administration. These suggestions go before the committee for evaluation and follow up, if needed.  
3. The principal should review the list of suggested purchases to comment on the merit of each one and provide insight for the committee.
4.  It is then up to the committee to prioritize the list and present it to the regular membership for approval. The membership votes on each item separately; never as one list of special purchase requests. This will allow for questions, price caps and tweaking of each suggested, if needed, to meet the approval of the membership.

The most important thing to consider when evaluating the amount of special purchase funds available is to take into account expenses the unit will be obligated for over the summer months and into the first part of the new school year.  Be certain to reserve funds for summer leadership training, invoices for any pre-ordered school supplies and spirit wear that the unit offers for sale in August and September. In addition, your unit's standing rules should specify a minimum amount of money that needs to remain in account in addition to pending invoice commitments.   

Supporting Documents: 

 Developing and Amending Budgets 

Non-Signer Bank Statement Checklist  

Budget Pamphlet

It's the time of year when most PTA's know how much their actual income and actual expenses are or will be compared to what is included in the current fiscal year budget.   

When actual income exceeds budgeted amounts there is more money to designate for items that promote the PTA's Purposes.  This typically includes Leadership Training (such as Texas PTA's Summer Seminar), Programs, Parent Education, Expenditures of Committee Chairmen and Donations.

Although the Treasurer along with the budget committee develop amendments to the current fiscal year's budget, all budget amendments are presented to the Executive Board  and then to the PTA membership for approval (pages 7 - 9 of Texas PTA's Treasurer's Guide).  

After budget amendments, including donations to the campus, are approved by the PTA's membership, the President and Treasurer will coordinate the payment of approved donations with the Principal and campus Bookkeeper.  (Note:  The budget should include an amount of each specific donation a little greater than the anticipated cost and a check should be written after the campus Bookkeepers completes a Purchase Order (P.O.).  Having an amount in the budget for each expense line item greater than the actual expense insures that the PTA is within amounts budgeted and just as important that there is always money in the bank.

AFTER the election of the Officers for the following year and PRIOR to the last Regular Meeting of the PTA's membership for the current year (May or June), a budget for FY 2011 - 2012 will need to be developed.   

• It is typical and customary for the incoming President and Treasurer to be part of the 2011-2012 budget committee.   
• The proposed budget is presented to the Executive Board and the PTA's membership for approval.  
• A Budget for fiscal year 2011 - 2012 provides the newly elected Officers and Executive Board a framework to conduct the business of the PTA beginning day one of the new fiscal year through the first Regular Meeting of the PTA's membership in September or October.

Included above is a form that can be utilized by the person that opens the PTA's/PTSA's bank statements.  It is imperative that a Non-Signer on the Bank's Records actually open and review the bank statement before it is provided to the Treasurer.

Has your PTA donated to the CCCC Scholarship fund in 2010-11?

Did you know that due to decreased silent auction income and an increase in the number of high schools in CCISD the amount of each CCCC scholarship was decreased last year from $750 to $500?

The recession has hit the scholarship fund hard but curiously only a small number of our local PTA's contribute to this fund. 

Donate to the CCCC Scholarship Fund! If your local unit does NOT currently provide scholarships and you find while "spring cleaning" your budget you have additional funds available please consider making a donation to the CCCC of PTA's fund.  Of course, you can also donate if your local unit provides scholarships too!  What a great way opportunity to not only promote PTA's purpose but invest in the future of a child.  All contributions can be send to the P.O. Box listed at the very bottom of this newsletter.  Thank you in advance! 

CCCC of PTAs Senior Scholarship Applications should now be available on Naviance.  Scholarships will be presented to two (2) graduating seniors who meet the criteria listed from the following high schools:  Clear Brook HS, Clear Creek HS, Clear Lake HS and Clear Springs HS.  Scholarships will be presented to one (1) graduating senior at Clear View and Clear Horizons.   

Please check with your campus Counselors Office if you have any questions about Naviance. 

Texas PTA Legislative Priorities 2011

• Pursue an adequate and equitable solution for school funding while maintaining accountability and responsibility for education the whole child
• Pass statewide Smoke-Free Workplaces Law - Pursue protections from second-hand smoke for youth and young adults working in a service industry.
• Fight Obesity - Support programs that promote movement, activities, healthier food choices and menus, and promote school, family community participation.
• Support Farm-to-School Programs - Pursue healthier food choices for children, promote awareness, community involvement and economic development.
• Ban possession and distribution of any herbal incense mixtures that contain synthetic cannabinoids, such as K2 or Spice.
• Fund Clean School Bus Program, the grant program for school districts that assists in retrofitting diesel bus engines so the emit fewer toxins.
• Pass Cyber-Bullying Criminalization statute that defines cyber-bullying and strengthens penalties.  Identify student, staff and parent education requirements.

 For a detailed listing of the legislative priorities, please visit www.txpta.org/legislative/.

 Contact your Representative

If you have not yet had an opportunity to let your representatives know your thoughts on the current budget crisis, do so now.  Let your voice be heard! 

Texas State Senator

Senate District 11 - Mike Jackson

www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist11/dist11.htm 

Texas House Representative

House District 24 - Larry Taylor

www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=24 

House District 129 - John Davis

www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=129 

What do you think???

Do you have a good idea on how to decrease the CCISD budget?  Dr. Greg Smith, Superintendent of Schools, is requesting your ideas!!  Please send them to 4thvplegislation@ccccpta.org.  You will remain anonymous.  The ideas will be compiled and forwarded.

 QUESTIONS:

1. In what month is the election of officers held for your PTA?
2. Is the Election of Officers meeting:  a) an executive board meeting; b) a general membership meeting; or c) either ?
3. What is the Slate of Officers, and who comes up with it ?
4. How many days before the election meeting must the Slate of Officers be publicized to the general membership?
5. How can someone who is not listed on the Slate of Officers get elected?
6. Do you have to be a member of that PTA to be elected as an officer?
7. Do you have to be a member of that PTA to nominate someone to be an officer?
8. Can you become a member of that PTA that night in order to vote ?
9. How do the chairmen on your PTA's executive board get their positions?

 ANSWERS:  Election of Officers--ANSWERS

The Clear Creek Community Council of PTAs held its Annual PTA Founders Day Dinner at Clear Creek Intermediate School on February 17^th.  The evening was full of fun and merriment as we celebrated in a 50s theme.  The Commons was full of pink, black and white balloons, jukeboxes and pink Cadillac's!   Many in the crowd of 185 guests dressed in 50s style.

 The night kicked off with the wonderful CCIS Jaguar Choir singing "Come Live With Me and Be My Love", along with "Great Balls of Fire" and Elvis' "C'mon Everybody!"  The young ladies were dressed in poodle skirts while the young gents were in blue jeans and white tee shirts, fully getting into the spirit of the evening.  Thanks to Mrs. Summer Brauer and Ms. Skyler Yancey for being a fun-loving part of the evening. 

After some delicious T-Bone Tom's burgers, fries and onion rings were served, many enjoyed a coke or root beer float.  All the while, 50s music was in the background keeping spirits high.

CCCC of PTAs president, Diane Fatora addressed the crowd, reminding them of how the founders of PTA had a vision of being advocates for our children and how we continue on in that same vein today.  We also are looking forward in ways of advocating for the children in our ever-changing world.

Then the crowd was "wowed" with none other than "The King of Rock and Roll" - Elvis!  Underneath that white and blue jumpsuit was really Clear Lake Intermediate Principal, Brett Lemley - doing his wonderful Elvis impersonation - and the crowd cheered, sang or fawned all over him.  Thank you, Mr. Lemley - don't know how we will ever top that entertainment.

Our Silent Auction, which supports the CCCC of PTAs scholarships that are awarded to graduating seniors, had many scoping out and bidding on many wonderful items.  Thank you to all who donated items for the auction.  We also want to thank so many of the CCCC Board (and Josie) and CCIS PTA for helping to decorate and serve the guests.

Finally, thank you to Mr. Jerry Herd, Principal of Clear Creek Intermediate for providing the venue for this dinner.   He and his staff were so gracious and easy to work with.  They helped make this evening come together flawlessly.  Thank you all for the fun evening!

Darlene Moore and Sarah Davis, CCCC of PTAs Hospitality

CCCC President Diane Fatora thanks (L to R) Darlene Moore and Sarah Davis, CCCC Hospitality, for planning a wonderful Founders Day Dinner!

From L to R:  Lisa Holbrook, Texas PTA Treasurer; Laurie Petty, Wedgewood Elementary PTA President; Kelly Orsag, Wedgewood Elementary PTA 2nd VP.