PTA council to emphasize communication, fathers’ involvement
The PTA at West Madison Elementary School sponsored a Fun Run last year. (CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON – PTA is much more than gift wrap and cookie dough. The volume of members raises the groups to a formidable coalition for education.
Long before school reconvenes, the Madison City Council of PTAs and each campus PTA have been planning for the upcoming school year. School PTAs have been preparing for carnivals, holiday gift shops and programs to augment classroom study that must be placed on the schools’ calendars.
“The council’s goals for 2013-2014 include a continued emphasis on getting more dads in schools with the Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) program, which will start in three elementary schools,” Griffith said.
Other initiatives will improve communication through social media, bimonthly coffee chats with the presidents and quarterly brown bag lunches to inform parents of upcoming changes in education.
“Our first luncheon in September will focus on Common Core,” Griffith said. In November, the second lunch will concentrate on ACT Aspire testing, replacing the Alabama Reading and Math Test (AMRT) for the Madison district.
Other work includes plans for the Alabama PTA Convention, having 100-percent participation in Reflections and enrolling each PTA in the National PTA Schools of Excellence program, Griffith said.
Last year, Columbia and Madison elementary schools did achieve 100-percent participation. Approximately 5,700 PTA members for Madison City Schools “makes us a large cooperative group in Madison County and Alabama to advocate for children and education,” Griffith said.
The council doesn’t pursue fundraising. “We work as an umbrella to help coordinate between the individual schools, Central Office and Alabama PTA,” Griffith said. Each PTA chooses its school’s fundraisers, such as a Fun Run, Spirit Night or festivals.
“The council has a wonderful partnership with administrations at both the Central Office and school level,” Griffith said. Last year, they collaborated on the School Safety Forum, AAA Brown Bag Lunch and elementary rezoning. “The administration is very respectful of PTA projects and supportive at all levels.”
“Partnership between parents and administration is one of the cornerstones for a successful school system,” Griffith said.
