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MCCPTA News and Updates                                                    Winter Break 2012

In this Winter Break edition of MCCPTA News and Updates find information about MCCPTA advocacy, details on upcoming programs, and news we don't want you to miss. 

Enjoy the break and have a Happy New Year!

 

Janette Gilman

President, Montgomery County Council of PTAs
Recommended Operating Budget Addresses Key MCCPTA Priorities
The proposed FY 2014 operating budget announced by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Joshua P. Starr on December 11 maintains programs and services vital to the success of every student in Montgomery County, restores critical positions cut at the height of the economic downturn, and lays solid groundwork for the future. Fiscally lean and responsible--just $10 million over the State-mandated minimum--the recommendation responds to key parent concerns, with targeted initiatives providing support for State-mandated curriculum changes--particularly for math--and ensuring the safety of student athletes.  
 
The recommended budget is fully consistent with the Operating Budget Priorities endorsed by the MCCPTA Delegates Assembly, comprised of representatives from the county's 191 PTA/PTSAs and county PTA leaders, in October 2012.
 
MCCPTA cluster coordinators and representatives from each high school cluster will be testifying before the Montgomery County Board of Education on Thursday January 10 or Thursday January 17 from 7 PM (to roughly 9:30 PM) at the Carver Educational Services Center. Join us to support their advocacy efforts.
Special Program on School Security
The MCCPTA Health & Safety Committee has scheduled a special program on school security for Wednesday January 16, 2013, 7-9 PM, in the Auditorium of the Carver Educational Services Center. The program will feature MCPS Department of School Safety and Security Supervisor Douglas Steel and MCPD Fifth District Commander Luther Reynolds.  
 
The session is open to all interested PT(S)A members.  
PTA Membership On the Grow
PTA in Montgomery County is up. As of mid-December, PTA membership countywide was up by 2,000 members over the same time last year!  Just imagine where we'll be once all our PTAs have submitted dues; 25 percent of our local units still need to write their checks to MCCPTA and Maryland PTA.
 
It's never too late to grow your PTA and engage your school community. If you or your PTA would like ideas or help, visit our Membership Tool Kit and/or contact our MCCPTA Membership and Engagement Chair who is working with our Multicultural Awareness Committee leaders and Student Involvement Committee leaders to grow local PTAs in support of every child at every school in our community.
 
PLUS, we have some new initiatives in the works to ensure that PTA in Montgomery County is inclusive and on the grow. Stay tuned!
National PTA Reflections 
Thanks to the over two dozen schools and their Relections program chairs and committee workers who brought hundreds of amazing, creative student entries to the MCCPTA office the week of December 17.   
 
Our MCCPTA Reflections co-chairs, Chris McDermott and Melissa McDonald, will be working in the next weeks to hold judging panels for these works and to ensure that all participating PTA units have met the requirements of Maryland and National PTA. Thanks to all the local PT(S)A presidents, treasurers, and the leaders who will be working with us to ensure these requirements are met; detailed information on how to fulfill each of the standards of continuing affiliation (SoCA) requirements can be found HERE on the MCCPTA website.
 
A special thank you to all our local Reflections leaders. With the departure of the longstanding chair at the State level, this has been a challenging year, and we appreciate your cooperation.  Given the energy in Montgomery County surrounding Reflections, we hope one of you might consider lending your talents to Maryland PTA in 2013-2014!  
Next MCCPTA Presents:
Equity and Excellence: A Practical Team Approach
Our next MCCPTA Presents program will take place on Tuesday, January 22, 6:30-7:30 PM in the cafeteria at the Carver Educational Services Center in Rockville; the program features Troy Boddy, Director, MCPS Equity Initiatives Unit.  
 
MCCPTA Presents! programs are held monthly, generally prior to the Delegates Assembly, and are open to all PTA members.

Visit the New MCCPTA Website
Looking for upcoming events?  Need to fulfill PTA standards of continuing affiliation (SoCA) requirements and need details? Want contact information?  Need a link to award information? All this and MUCH more is available at www.mccpta.org! 

MCCPTA unveiled our new web presence in October at www.mccpta.org. This site, designed and built by our MCCPTA volunteer Webmaster Doni Stassel, is a user-friendly resource for local PTAs leaders and members, county PTA leaders, and all in our community who are interested in the work, activities, and scope of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs. Our original website remains "live" as an archive of previous MCCPTA positions and records, and you can redirect to our new website via a link on the top of the Archive site's home page.  Check it out today!  We welcome your feedback. 
Delegate Cards
Delegate Cards for the current school year were distributed at our November 2012 Delegates Assembly (DA) and will be available outside the Carver Cafeteria one hour prior to the January 2013 DA subject to the Standing Rules adopted by the delegates in September 2012. Delegate cards beginning in November are required to cast a vote in the DA.  
 
Per the Standing Rules, each individual delegate picks up his/her own card by showing their current PTA membership card. In addition, the delegate's PT(S)A must have remitted dues to MCCPTA for a minimum of 25 members; as of mid-December, over 40 schools had not remitted dues. These guidelines were created to address problems that arose with previous distribution methods. If an individual delegate has a question about the whether his/her PT(S)A has submitted dues, please contact your cluster coordinator or the MCCPTA office prior to the January meeting.  

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Upcoming Dates

Board of Education Hearings on the Superintendent's Recommended Operating Budget 
Thursday, January 10
7:00pm
Auditiorium, Carver Center
850 Hungerford Drive

MCCPTA Health & Safety Committee Special Program on School Security 
Wednesday, January 16
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Auditiorium, Carver Center
850 Hungerford Drive

Board of Education Hearings on the Superintendent's Recommended Operating Budget
Thursday, January 17
7:00pm
Auditiorium, Carver Center
850 Hungerford Drive

MCCPTA Presents:
Equity and Excellence - A Practical Team Approach
Tuesday, January 22
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Carver Center
850 Hungerford Drive

January Delegates Assembly
Tuesday, January 22
7:30pm 
Carver Center
850 Hungerford Drive

MCCPTA Presents:
FY2013 Operating Budget Forum
featuring elected county leaders
Tuesday, February 26
7:30pm
Auditorium, Carver Center
850 Hungerford Drive

February Delegates Assembly
Tuesday, January 22
6:30 - 7:30pm 
Auditorium, Carver Center
850 Hungerford Drive



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