Not so long ago, the Chevy Chase-area Parent Teacher Association worked on fun events for the community. Now, as the school system tightens its belt, local PTA’s are more often contributing to the cost of basic school supplies and operations.
This year, PTA funds will help purchase computer carts for Chevy Chase Elementary to help with computer instruction classes. Since the computer lab had to be closed, the carts will carry computers and become mini computer labs that are shared among classrooms. They’ve funded two carts so far, at $6,000 each, with a goal of three or four more.
At North Chevy Chase Elementary School, the PTA dished out $1,300 for the teachers’ educational magazines that the county said it could no longer afford. When the county cut the bus for students in the after-school tutoring program, the PTA stepped in and paid that bill, too—about $1200.
The PTA at the Rosemary Hills Primary School has brought in over three times as much money as in past years, to the tune of about $60,000. About $36,000 of this will purchase six more interactive white boards for the school, which currently has four. The balance of the money is for PTA programs.
Area PTA’s are bringing in more money not only through fundraisers but through other inventive means, including simply asking for it. They’ve found willing donors in parents, community members, and some local governments. It seems that people would rather write a check and know specifically where their money is going rather than contribute to wrapping paper sales or other fundraisers with vague definitions.
Last December, several Chevy Chase villages contributed to the neighboring Rosemary Hills PTA, simply because they were asked—and found the cause worthy.
As municipal budgets continue to be cut, the PTA expects to continue making up the difference so that local schools (and school kids) have what they need for a quality education.
