News & Review

The President's Message:

By the time you read this we may know the amount of funding that the County Executive has earmarked for the education portion of the 1999-2000 Harford County Budget. Whatever that amount is, one thing is certain, it will not "fully fund" the request of the school system's Superintendent and Board of Education. Therefore, there will be cuts made to the current proposal. Department requests and identified needs will be reevaluated and monies redistributed. Letters will be written to the Aegis, calls made to the School Board members, the County Executive and County Council members, and outcries from the parent community voiced. No one will be totally happy and some may be downright angry at the decisions made.

HCCPTA has identified smaller class size, the promotion of technology in classroom use, and competitively compensated staff to meet classroom needs, as our priorities for this budget. While these are certainly not the only "needs" of our students, we feel they are among those that will make the greatest positive impact in our children's daily school lives.

he Board of Education has signed a negotiated agreement with the teachers of this county and has consistently stated that this agreement will be honored first with the funds allocated. We agree that our teachers are underpaid and overworked. Their hard work and diligent efforts on behalf of the children of Harford County public schools can best be understood if you spend time in these schools. Consistently. Not just dropping by for an occasional visit. Those who volunteer on a daily basis are in a great position to see that effort and understand how one or two more (or less) students in a classroom does make a difference.

For many years, Harford County teachers have been like the roofs of some of our older school buildings. Neglected, unattended, and low on the maintenance priority list. And now that the wear and tear is becoming evident, the funds must be allocated to repair the damage from these years of neglect. It is not an easy task, or one that has an easy solution. The Board of Education is making a serious effort to correct these discrepancies. Some say they are moving too fast, others, too slow. No one will be totally happy and some may be downright angry at the decisions made.

One thing is for sure, without total funding, and with the commitment of honoring this contract with the teachers, something has to give. New teachers will not be hired, class sizes will increase, technology implementation will be slowed or deleted, classroom supply orders reduced, purchasing of textbooks delayed and so on. I don't propose to have the answer but I urge EVERYONE involved to keep the needs of the children first. In our effort to be fiscally responsible, let's not loose sight of the fact that we are talking about, and deciding about, cutting the needs of children. I have said this before, but it bears saying again...if we truly believe that educating our children is a priority, if we truly believe that children are the future of this county, state, country and world, if we truly believe that educating everyone takes everyone, then we all better be ready to back up our words with action...and money.

Sometime soon we have to get serious about children and keep our promises to them. We promise them a good life, one better than ours, and we promise them the best possible preparation for the future. Then we cut the budget. We expect more and more of our schools and teachers. Then we cut the budget. We want highly qualified, enthusiastic instructors in our classrooms. Then we cut the budget. We add curriculum and requirements to the diploma process and add assessment after assessment to record our progress. Then we cut the budget. Something has to give. We recognize that not everyone will be happy with the decisions made. We can only hope that someone will be downright angry about the decisions made.

Pat Benedict, HCCPTA President

Return to top of page.

1st Vice Presidents Report - "A PTA IN GOOD STANDING"

Is your PTA local Unit "A PTA in Good Standing?" Throughout the year, we have published a list of requirements that must be met in order for your local to be "A PTA in Good Standing" as provided for by the National and State PTA.

In addition to the obvious; upholding the mission and objects of the National PTA, the list of items include the timely payment of State, National and Council dues; proper liability insurance; and regular review of local bylaws

Several times during the year, the MCPT supplies the Council with a list of those PTAs who have not completed the required three year review of their local bylaws. There are several local PTA and PTSA units within the council who are currently delinquent in their bylaw review status. The Maryland PTA has recently contacted several of the delinquent units, in writing and via telephone, to inform the unit that their ability to participate in various State and National awards programs, membership awards, and the reflections program is in jeopardy.

The bylaw review process for local bylaws need not be an insurmountable task. Each month, I review a calendar which contains the dates that each local unit's bylaws were last approved. Each month I mail review instructions, a working copy, and an original format to those units up for review. If your unit has not received this packet of information or, you have received a communication from MCPT regarding your award participation status, and you would like assistance with your bylaw review, please contact the 1st Vice President at the numbers provided on the last page of this issue.

Tina Janouris, HCCPTA 1st Vice President

Return to top of page.

 

V.P. Legislation - Mike O'Hern - PTA Night In Annapolis