September 2014 - Little Rock School District

Little Rock PTA Council
News and Updates
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT
September 2014
Message from the President
Greetings, and thank you for your willingness to serve the students and staff at your
school. Your service through PTA will help make a positive difference
in the lives of many children. The mission of PTA is to make every
child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and
communities to advocate for all children. And we all know that it takes
a village!
Every PTA unit within the Little Rock School District (LRSD) is
supported by the Little Rock PTA Council. The LRPTA Council strives to
maintain a close relationship with each LRSD PTA by requesting each
unit’s leaders to: 1) elect one of its members to be a Council
representative, 2) attend officer training sessions and monthly Council
meetings, 3) conduct annual membership campaigns at their school, and 4) pay annual dues,
which support council programming, training and annual awards. Members of the Council board
will assist you in the development of your PTA membership, planning and programming. Please
don’t hesitate to contact any Council officer if you have any questions or need assistance.
You are invited to attend our Council luncheon meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each
month during the school year (unless otherwise stated). Lunch is served beginning at 11:00 a. m.
and the business meeting will begin promptly at 11:30 a. m. Each school is encouraged to send
three representatives to the monthly meetings: the principal, the unit president, and the Council
representative or their alternates. Anyone is invited to attend though. The meetings offer helpful
information and resources about PTA, district educational and student support programs, testing
and graduation requirements, parent involvement and community outreach and more. Plus this
is a wonderful opportunity to network and share ideas with other PTA officers, LR school board
members and LRSD personnel. All meetings and locations are listed below, in the 2014-2015
LRSD calendars, on the LRSD website, on Facebook and on Twitter. I look forward to a productive
and exciting year.
Again, thank you for your service and dedication to PTA, your school and your
community.
Sincerely,
Greta Freeman, LR PTA Council President
LR PTA Council Meeting Dates 2014-2015
September 9
LRSD Administration
December 9
Brady Elementary
March 10
Central H. S.
October 14
J. A. Fair H. S.
January 13
Mabelvale Elementary
April 21
Mann Magnet M. S.
November 11
Watson Elementary
February 10
Founder’s Day
Hall H. S.
May 12
Spring Awards Luncheon
TBA
Inside this issue:
Mission and Purpose of the PTA
2
BE a PIG
3
Parent Involvement Pages
4-6
ViPS News
7
Dates to Remember
8
LR PTA Council and State Officers
8
Attachments
*
About PTA
It was founded in 1897. As the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation, Parent
Teacher Association (PTA) reminds our country of its obligations to children and provides
parents and families with a powerful voice to speak on behalf of every child. Its mission is: PTA
is a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a
strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child. PTA is comprised of nearly 5
million parents and other concerned adults devoted to the educational success of children and
the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization and membership in PTA is open to anyone who is concerned with the education,
health, and welfare of children and youth, so join today! PTA Takes Action Network with
millions of advocates who stay informed on the latest happenings on Capitol Hill so join today
to learn more about how you can take action on legislative issues affecting families, schools, and
communities.
Arkansaspta.org
The Mission of PTA
To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering
families and communities to advocate for all children.
The Purpose of the PTA
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Page 2
To promote the welfare of children and youth in the home, the school, community and
place of worship;
To raise the standard of home life;
To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth;
To bring into a closer relationship the home and the school, that parents and teachers
may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth; and
To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as well secure
for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual
education.
L I T T L E R O C K PT A C O U N CI L NE W S A N D U P D A T E S
Arkansas PTA wants every PTA to “BEAPIG” or be a “PTA in Good Standing”.
PTAs In Good Standing
B – Bylaws; PTA bylaws must be current and on file with the state PTA office. Bylaws are required to be renewed every three
(3) years.
E – Elected Officers Form; PTAs must keep a list of current PTA officers on file with the state PTA office.
A – Audit Report; PTAs must prepare an Audit Report and submit it for review with the state PTA office.
P – Paid Membership Dues; PTAs must have submitted all state/national PTA dues with the state PTA office.
I – Insurance; PTAs must purchase bond insurance with a policy date of November 1st. If a PTA uses AIM, AIM will provide a
list of insured PTAs to the state PTA office.
G – Government Agency (IRS) Reporting; PTAs must file a Form 990-N (ePostcard) or Form 990-EZ with the IRS and submit
a copy of each year’s filing with the state PTA office.
Join the latest AR PTA revolution!
Parent Involvement News
Parent Academy for Student Success Workshops Sept. 6
LRSD Parent Academy for Student Success
Workshops, being held at three locations, are
this weekend on Saturday, September 6. The
Little Rock School District has adopted the
National Network of Partnership Schools
(NNPS) model for parent engagement
developed at Johns Hopkins University. The
model calls for all the schools in the district
to be divided into cluster teams with each
cluster team hosting grade transition
workshops and community collaboration
activities simultaneously in different
The Little Rock School District parent and community involvement efforts have been divided into three
teams:
• CENTRAL/EAST TEAM Leader: Gregory Hodges, Parent Facilitator, Central High; Recorder: Susan
Merry, Parent Facilitator, Mann Magnet Middle School
• SOUTHWEST TEAM Leader: Dr. Angela Dallas, Parent Facilitator, Cloverdale; McClellan High;
Recorder: Jade Salzman, Parent Coordinator, Cloverdale Middle
• WEST TEAM Co-leaders: Millie Jones, Parent Facilitator, McDermott; Pamela Lewis, Parent Facilitator,
Roberts; Co-recorders: Sharon Johnson, Parent Facilitator, Henderson; Laurine Williams, Fair Park ECC
All Little Rock School District parents are invited to attend at the assigned location of your child’s school or
whichever location is the most convenient. For more information, contact your child’s school or call the
LRSD Parent Involvement Office at 447-3358. Refreshments are provided and door prizes will be awarded at
each location.
Participating Schools for Central-East Cluster ELEMENTARY: Bale, Booker, Carver, Franklin,
Gibbs, King, Rockefeller, Stephens, Washington, Western Hills, Wilson, Woodruff ECC; SECONDARY:
Dunbar Middle, Mann Middle, Central High, Hamilton Academy, Metropolitan Career Technical Center,
Accelerated Learning Center (ACC)
Participating Schools for Southwest Cluster ELEMENTARY: Baseline, Chicot Primary & ECC,
Dodd, Geyer Springs Gifted & Talented Academy, Mabelvale, Meadowcliff, Otter Creek, Wakefield,
Watson; SECONDARY: Cloverdale Middle, Mabelvale Middle, J.A. Fair High, McClellan High
Participating Schools for West Cluster ELEMENTARY: Brady, Fair Park ECC, Forest Heights STEM
Academy, Forest Park, Fulbright, Jefferson, McDermott, Pulaski Heights Elem, Don R. Roberts, Romine, Terry,
Williams; SECONDARY: Forest Heights STEM Academy, Henderson, Pulaski Heights Middle, Hall, Parkview
For more information contact the LRSD Parent Involvement Office at 501-447-3357 or email [email protected] or
[email protected]
www.lrsd.org
Little Rock School District
Parent Facilitators & Title I Parent Coordinators 2014-2015
Arkansas Act 307 of 2007 encourages public schools to develop parental Involvement plans that facilitate
better communication, support for parenting skills, Integration of parents into student learning, volunteering,
and collaboration between schools and community; and for other purposes. The Parent Facilitator is a
certified position required by Arkansas Act 603/307 of 2007. The Act specifies the following:
The principal of each school in a district shall designate one (1) certified staff member who is willing to serve
as a parent facilitator to:
o help organize meaningful training for staff and parents;
o promote and encourage a welcoming atmosphere to foster parental involvement in the school; and
o undertake efforts to ensure that parental participation is recognized as an asset to the school.
The certified staff member serving as a parental facilitator shall receive supplemental pay for the assigned
duties as required by law. A full version of this law may be accessed on the AR Department of Education
website, http://www.arkansased.org/programs/acsip/acts.html.
All LRSD schools have an assigned Parent Facilitator with the responsibilities to meet the requirements of this
Act.
A LRSD Title I Parent Coordinator is a non-certified position and is hired by the School Principal to support all
parent involvement activities in the building by providing one-on-one collaboration with parents, providing
parenting workshops, collaborating with the
community for the support of the students
and parents, maintaining the Parent Center
and any other parent involvement related
activity.
All LRSD schools are members the John
Hopkins University, National Network of
Partnership Schools (NNPS). School cluster
teams have been formed in three areas of the
LRSD school zone to maximize parent and
community engagements. Teams will utilize
the six types of involvement: Parenting,
Communicating, volunteering, Learning at
Home, Decision-Making, and Collaborating
with the Community. The LRSD NNPS School
Cluster Teams are:
Central-East School Cluster Team
Southwest Little Rock School Cluster
Team
West Little Rock School Cluster Team
If you would like more information regarding
parent involvement and engagement, logon
www.lrsd.org/parents or contact the LRSD
Parent Involvement Office 447-3357 or email
[email protected] or
[email protected].
Kaye Rainey, LRSD, Parent Involvement Specialist (447-3357 or [email protected]
ViPS News
Compliments of Tammy Blaylock
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT
PTA COUNCIL
P. O. Box 461
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
Submit stories and information to:
the Corresponding Secretary
[email protected]
September
1
Labor Day (Schools/Offices Closed)
4
Open House – All Elementary Schools
6
Parent Involvement
9
Council Meeting—LRSD Administration
16
School Board Election
18
Open House – All Middle Schools
23
Open House – All High Schools
25
School Board Meeting – 5:30 p.m.
30
“Early Bird” Membership Award due - pay initial membership dues
to AR PTA office (Form enclosed)
the
We’re on
web at
Lrsd.org
LR PTA Council
October
11
Computer Power Day + Parent Academy for Student Success
13
End of 1st Quarter (40 days)
14
Council Meeting
17
Teacher Record Day—Students Out
20
Parent Conferences—Students Out
23-31
Red Ribbon Week
23
School Board Meeting – 5:30 p.m.
LR PTA Executive Board, Committee Chairs, and State Officers
LR PTA Executive Board Officers
President
Greta Freeman
1st VP
Neva Johnson
2nd VP
Shannon Johnson
3rd VP
Nicole Thomas
Secretary
Shikara Linsy
Corr. Secretary
Zeornee Herts
Treasurer
Marilyn Hopson
Parliamentarian
Michelle Odum
Historian
Charlene Kirk
LR PTA Council Committees
Advisory
Presidents Club
President’s Task Force
Newsletter
Greta Freeman
Zeornee Herts
Handbook
Shikara Linsy
Greta Freeman
Charlene Kirk
Bylaws
Neva Johnson
Membership
Shannon Johnson
Awards
Nicole Thomas
Virginia Stuckey
ViPS Rep
Ginny Belotti
AR PTA State Officers
AR President
Charles Warren
[email protected]
President-Elect
Keli Gill
[email protected]
VP of Legislation
Henri Smothers
[email protected]
VP of Membership
Beth Everett
[email protected]
Secretary
Betsy Hayes
[email protected]
Treasurer
Melinda Kinnison
[email protected]
Im. Past President
Ray Samaniego
[email protected]
Bylaws Chair
Julie Delashaw
[email protected]
Reflections Chair
Geraldine Nichols
[email protected]
Central Region VP
Phillip Crutchfield
[email protected]
Central Region FSR
Michelle Odum
[email protected]
Arkansas PTA
Office Manager
Shelley Ussery
[email protected]
Monday thru Wednesday
9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
Phone: 501-753-5247 Fax: 501-753-6168
National PTA
www.pta.org
Little Rock PTA Council Registration Fee Form
(The PTA Council Registration Fee is in addition to your National & State dues paid to
the Arkansas PTA. Your fee supports the work of your local PTA council.)
Name of Unit:
____________________________________________________________
Name of President _________________________________Phone # ___________________
Email Address
____________________________________________________________
School enrollment as of October 1
___________
Council fees are based on your school type/size. Please check the appropriate column.
___
High School
$120
___
Middle School
$ 90
___
Elementary School w/ enrollment over 300 students
$ 60
___
Elementary School w/ enrollment under 300 students
$ 30
___
Metropolitan, ACC, Felder and Hamilton
$ 25
Check # ________
Amount Remitted $_________
Please mail your check (payable to Little Rock PTA Council) and this form to:
Marilyn Hopson
LR PTA Council Treasurer
P. O. Box 461
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
Please pay fees before November 1.
Fees must be received before a unit will be considered eligible for PTA Council awards .
Office Use Only:
Date Postmarked ____________ Date Received ____________