Highlights of January 2014 Delegates Assembly 
Thank you delegates for another evening of remarkable turnout, patience, parental understanding, and robust engagement at this month's Delegates Assembly (DA). And how about another round of applause for the fabulous Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Jazz Combo who entertained our delegates and ushered in our January MCCPTA Presents! program featuring Superintendent Josh Starr. Thanks to Dr. Starr for breaking away from a Board of Education session to give us some insights into the proposed operating budget, and for answering our PTA leaders' questions.    

One more, heartfelt thanks to the many at the DA--and to those reading this--who have committed to attending one or more advocacy events this month. If your school needs an addition, a modernization, or a major repair, we need you, and we need you to mobilize your school community and encourage them to come to the County Council CIP hearings on February 5 and 6 and/or to PTA Night in Annapolis on February 13. Bring your students. Wear your school spirit colors.

We must let our elected officials know in no uncertain terms that schools are our priority, and they must be theirs too. If we pack the halls in Rockville and Annapolis, our kids just might get the funding for the education and school facilities we all believe they need to succeed tomorrow. Together, we will make a difference.    
President, Montgomery County Council of PTAs
Featured Business
At this session, we debated and approved our 2013-2014 MCCPTA Legislative Platform, and got an update on upcoming hearings and advocacy events. We also heard from the chairs of our Gifted Child (GCC) and Outreach Events committees, welcomed new GCC co-chair Kim Testa, announced the opening of nominations for our annual MCCPTA Achievement Awards, and congratulated the winner of Membership Challenge #3, Forest Knolls Elementary School PTA!
Hey, Annapolis, We're Coming Back!
PTA and MCCPTA leaders trudged out to Annapolis on Friday, January 10th, and came home energized, optimistic, and keenly aware that we will only get the funding our schools need--and support on our other priority issues--if we go back to Annapolis again in force.   
 
And that is why, on Thursday evening, February 13th, we are asking every one of you to join us--and to bring your friends, neighbors, grandparents, and students--to Maryland PTA Night in Annapolis.  You are welcome to meet us there OR to take one of the school buses MCCPTA is chartering from locations throughout Montgomery County; CLICK HERE for details and links to register to ride with us!  SSL hours will be given to middle and high school students who come prepared to tell delegates and senators why our schools need their support; students must be accompanied by their parent(s) or guardian(s). SSL forms will be provided by MCCPTA in Annapolis.  
 
We also learned on that cold January day that MCCPTA needs to maintain a presence in Annapolis throughout the General Assembly session.  To do just that the MCCPTA Legislative Committee is organizing a "reserve force" of volunteers able to testify or come support testimony as hearings crop up throughout the 90-day General Assembly session. Amy Bryan, a member of the Legislative Committee and PTSA leader from Robert Frost Middle School, is organizing this crew.  
 
More than two dozen delegates volunteered to be part of this advocacy work at our DA.  If you think you have a day or two to spend in Annapolis with some PTA friends and would like to join our "reserves" email Amy by CLICKING HERE.  Volunteers will be contacted as hearings on key funding and MCCPTA priorities are scheduled, and will be provided talking points.   
County Council CIP Hearings:  
Let's Be Seen, Then PTA Will Be Heard 
MCCPTA cluster coordinators, leaders, and PTA representatives will be testifying before the County Council on the critical capacity and modernization needs of our schools on February 5th and 6th; Council hearings are being held both days at 1:30pm and 7pm in the County Council Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville.  
 
We need YOU and members of your school community--including the kids--to come to those hearings and let our elected officials see that schools are our #1 priority, and we expect them to be their #1 priority as well.  To see at which session your cluster leader will be speaking, CHECK HERE on our MCCPTA website; the list of dates and times will be uploaded as soon as the Council confirms our requests.  
County Council President Rice:  
"Have Parents Send Me Email"
County Council President Craig Rice told MCCPTA on January 20th that he wants to get emails from parents throughout the county if they really support the push for funding for our schools. 
 
What do you say, PTA? Let's give him what he asked for!  Please send--and push out to your school community to send--brief emails to Council President Rice; CLICK HERE TO SEND AN EMAIL.  Keep the notes short, make them original, and keep them coming now through the County Council hearings on February 6th!  Here are a few points to choose from, adapt, or make your own:
  • Increasing county funding for schools, including school construction and maintenance, must be the Council's top priority.  More and more of our schools are grossly overcapacity, our student population is growing by 2,000 students annually, and new housing construction abounds.  There is no time to wait; we need funding now; we need school construction today.
  • Montgomery County PTA members are working hard to get State funding; the county must step up as well.
  • We like libraries and parks, but when it was time to choose, we bought our home in Montgomery County/chose to live here because of the schools.
  • It's an election year; PTA votes!
  • Councilmembers often note how important our schools are.  Now, we need them to match that verbal pledge with funding.
  • Tell Craig Rice about YOUR school's construction, modernization, and/or maintenance needs.  If you have a photo, attach it!  

Five minutes to write an email.  Don't overachieve.  Just do it!

MCCPTA Operating Budget Forum: 
Calling for Your Input Now
MCCPTA will be hosting our annual Operating Budget Forum after the February Delegates Assembly on Tuesday, February 25.  All members of the Board of Education, several County Councilmembers (Berliner, Floreen, Navarro, and Reimer), and Superintendent Starr already have confirmed their attendance; County Executive Leggett and several other County Councilmembers also have tentatively reserved the night for us.
 
This year we will provide panelists questions in advance; we will draw those questions from member input.  Please submit ideas to our MCCPTA FORUM INBOX by Friday, February 7; please feel free to share this email address with your school communities.
MCCPTA Delegates, MCCPTA's Glue 
MCCPTA has welcomed many new delegates this year, and we are thrilled that our locals continue to fill these important positions.  Delegates are the link between local school communities and the county PTA, and are essential to two-way communication. Delegates help their PT(S)A members understand the critical role each can play outside their school in advocacy efforts and school-system sponsored focus groups, task forces, and fora to benefit all public schools in the county, and demonstrate the strength of One Voice. 
 
To help both new and experience delegates, the MCCPTA Delegates Guidebook, posted on our website, provides tips, guidance, and expectations. In addition, the current MCCPTA Standing Rules, adopted by the DA in October, provide additional specifics on how the Delegates Assembly meetings operate. Each delegate should also be sure to have a copy of the MCCPTA Blue Book--these directories were sent to schools together with delegate cards--which contain the MCCPTA Bylaws as well as additional information on MCCPTA and its work.  Delegates, THANK YOU, for all you do for your students, schools, and PTA in Montgomery County!  
MCCPTA Officers    

President 
Janette Gilman

VP for Educational Issues 
OPEN

Vice President for Administration 
Frances Frost

Vice President for Programs 
Paul Geller

Vice President for Legislation
Lynne Harris

Treasurer  
Susan Burkinshaw

Recording Secretary -
Board of Directors 
Karen Collishaw

Recording Secretary - Delegates Assembly 
Kellie Schoolar-Reynolds
 
MCCPTA Office 
301.208.0111
office@mccpta.com 


Upcoming Dates

Montgomery County Council CIP Hearings
February 5 and 6
1:30pm and 7pm
 
Maryland PTA Night in Annapolis 
MARK YOU CALENDAR
BRING YOUR STUDENT(S)! 
Thursday, February 13
5-9pm
Lowe House Office Building
6 Bladen Street, Annapolis
 
February Delegates Assembly
Tuesday, February 25
6:30-7:25pm
NOTE TIME CHANGE
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center
 
MCCPTA Operating Budget Forum
Tuesday, February 25
7:30-9:00pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center
 
MCCPTA Annual Awards
Nomination Deadline
Friday, March 7

 

  

  

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