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02/19/2018 11:00 PMThe Board of Education (BOE) hopes to provide “an opportunity for all district PTA/PTO groups to work together to plan and organize district-wide events, collaborate on fundraising efforts throughout the district, and to promote and support the sustainability of strong school connections.”
But a BOE vote on Feb. 13 to establish a new committee for all the district’s school PTOs and PTAs made some involved with the board’s existing PTO/PTA Subcommittee feel the move was premature and, possibly, personal.
At the Feb. 13 meeting, BOE member Lisa Geraci-Anastasio said she received an email from BOE Chairman Michele DeLucia noting DeLucia’s intent to dissolve the existing PTO/PTA Subcommittee, which Geraci-Anastasio noted can’t be done without board approval; Geraci-Anastasio said the matter was not even brought to the BOE for discussion.
Geraci-Anastasio, who previously chaired the subcommittee, said the subcommittee was brought back to the BOE eight years ago in part to help school parents resolve issues along with the BOE in a proactive way.
DeLucia said the PTO/PTA Subcommittee is not dissolved yet, and acknowledged that move would have to be voted on by the BOE. DeLucia said the subcommittee could be dissolved because a new committee being developed is more structured than the current subcommittee, and once it’s up and running, there wouldn’t be a reason to have both. In the interim, DeLucia named BOE member Erika Santino-Santiago chair of the PTO/PTA Subcommittee.
“The policy of the district committee is a much better way to go,” DeLucia said, “It’s more advantageous for the PTOs/PTAs themselves as well as the school district.”
The policy for the new district-wide PTA/PTO committee DeLucia referenced would meet at least three times during the academic year, and members of the committee would include (but aren’t limited to) BOE members, PTA/PTO member representative from each school, a parent representative from each school, a staff member representative from each school, and an administrative representative from each school.
DeLucia said there will be structured meetings on set dates with set agendas.
DeLucia said the current PTO/PTA Subcommittee has a specific charge of working with PTO/PTA groups on district-wide planning of events, assisting with fundraising efforts throughout the district, and supporting the connection between the school and the student, and wasn’t meant to be a forum for complaints about schools.
Geraci-Anastasio disagreed, stating that the subcommittee was a way for parents to bring their concerns forward and get feedback. She believes the subcommittee’s charge to “promote and support the sustainability of strong home-school connections” means that discussions on school issues can take place and be addressed.
Geraci-Anastasio said there were no problems with the way the subcommittee operated in the past, and alleged a personal issue between herself and DeLucia caused the change; DeLucia denied any personal agenda.
“I’m trying to do what’s best for the district,” DeLucia said, stating that by putting the new committee in as a policy, it would require those involved to fulfill duties and have a more structured setting.
Heather Loehmann, an East Haven resident involved in PTOs/PTAs in the district, spoke at the meeting, stating that the existing subcommittee was not only great for organizing and sharing school fundraisers and parties, but was also a way to address concerns with the BOE. She said that sometimes parents wouldn’t attend or speak at BOE meetings and would ask PTOs to speak on their behalf. She said that through the subcommittee, parents’ concerns were addressed.
Loehmann said she almost didn’t talk at the end of the meeting because the topic had become a “shouting match.” She said she understood the meeting was getting out of hand, but was hoping for more from the board. Loehmann said she felt the new committee is doing what the subcommittee already does, and creating a new one doesn’t make sense.
Loehmann also questioned DeLucia’s decision to replace Geraci-Anastasio as chair of subcommittee, saying that Geraci-Anastasio did a “tremendous job” on the subcommittee.