The following is a
list of typical committees that the local PTA unit may wish to
consider for their PTA.
After School Activities
The
committee would oversee the implementation of after school
activities Read after school guidelines from the PTA
Council.
Awards
Selects
and honors those who contributed above and beyond the local
level; advises local PTAs on achieving MD PTA Seal Awards
Bylaws
Advises local PTA units on their bylaws'
revisions; maintains PTA Council bylaws. Assists in
the establishing of new PTAs in the county and their individual
bylaws.
Budget
Examines
and prepares testimony on HCPSS capital and operating budgets
Citizen's Advisory Council
Representative
attends monthly meetings (3rd Tues of month) of
this advisory council to the BOE and reports
back to the PTA executive board and general memberships. The
meetings include educational issues on a county level.
Contact HCPSS Public Information at 410-313-6682 for more
information.
Cultural
Arts Committee
After
consultation with the PTA executive board, ET/GT teachers,
principal and assistant principal, the committee books
various cultural events for the school year.
This committee is responsible for keeping abreast of issues
such as curriculum, textbooks, grading, student placement
and funding for the instructional program and other student-related
activities. (e.g., reviewing HCPSS policies as they
are recommended for change)
Education Issues
This
committee addresses the needs of students who require special
education programs. These students include the gifted
and talented and all children defined by the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Environmental Issues
To
help educate building users on healthy habits regarding
indoor school environments as well as surrounding grounds. Members
can work with teachers and administrators to coordinate
Earth Day Celebrations that are both educational and fun. This
committee helps to establish and participates in an Indoor
Environmental Quality Team at the school via the PTACHC
SET Program, which monitors the school’s indoor and
outdoor environment.
Family
Involvement Program
The committee
should be a broad representation of the entire membership
and should be appointed as soon after the election of new
officers as possible, so that it may have sufficient time
to plan the program for the coming PTA year.
The term program means
several things: the total planned activities of the
association, the presentations or special events scheduled
for each meeting and the printed program of activities
for the year.
Select
some specific field in which the activities of the PTA
will most effectively serve the needs of the children and
youth. Plans should be flexible so that they can
be modified to meet changing conditions, concerns and needs
of the community.
Health Issues
This
committee focuses on the quality of life of the child and
builds partnerships with parent and community in order
to provide effective comprehensive health programs (nutrition,
curriculum and services).
Historian
To act
as custodian for all records and other materials pertinent
to the PTA’s history in a permanent file.
Hospitality
The goal
of the hospitality committee is to develop a spirit of
friendliness among the members of the PTA and others who
attend its meetings. The committee organizes the
serving of refreshments for PTA general meetings, executive
board meetings, staff appreciation lunches, and special
school activities.
Inclusiveness
PTAs
should constantly strive to increase sensitivity to all
families in the community and create opportunities for
maximum participation in all PTA activities.
International/Intercultural
Relations
This
committee promotes the development of programs and activities
that 1) assist in securing for all children the goal of
enduring peace and 2) foster understanding and appreciation
of the diverse cultures within our own nation and those
of other countries that, with us, comprise the global community.
Leadership
Provides
training, conflict resolution and guidance to local PTA
unit’s n the county per the request of the local
PTA President.
Legislative Activities
Informs
members of legislative issues and presents positions to
policy makers
Membership
The goal
of the membership committee is to build an informed, active
membership, familiar with the mission, objects, policies,
and programs of the PTA. The committee collects membership
dues, distributes membership cards and maintains a current
membership list.
Newsletter
The committee
collects articles from students, staff and PTA members. Prepare
the layout and submit to PTA President for final approval
prior to printing. Transport the newsletter to and
from the printer and distributes to the students. Forward
a copy of newsletter to the PTA Council office.
Public Relations
To help create public awareness and support for PTA goals and programs
by using every medium of communication.
Reading/Literacy Issues
The committee
should work closely with the reading teachers to make parents
aware that they should develop reading readiness in young
children. Help parents when necessary to improve
and promote their literacy levels.
Reflections
This
committee assists the local school unit’s Reflections
program and arranges local judging on the county level. Arranges
for an evening to view the winning entries.
Classroom
Representatives
These
volunteers are the vital link between the local PTA and
the school. They try to bring into closer contact
the members with the school, to work with both the staff
and parents to interpret and promote the work of the PTA. These
representatives can function as a committee. The
president can appoint a chair to represent the committee
on the executive board.
Safety Issues
This
committee encourages home, school and community to join
together to determine needs and implement appropriate safety
measures. Every child should have an education that
helps develop safe living habits. (This committee
could easily be combined with the environmental committee.)
Safe-to-School
This
committee would establish and maintain the Safe-to-School
program (if not already a school supported function). Arrange
for parent participation within the program and volunteers
to actually perform the daily duties.
Scholarships
Selects recipients and oversees administration of scholarship money.
School Environment Team
The
chair of this committee would act as a liaison between
the PTA executive board and the local School Environment
Team (SET). The SET Program is designed to monitor those factors
that affect health, safety, and the education of building
users. The primary activity is a walk through of the
building using a checklist for each room. Answer
yes or no to each of the questions on the list. The
chair would coordinate the SET Walkthru dates with the
Principal and organize parent volunteers for the two annual
SET Walkthrus. This program is a joint effort between
PTACHC and the HCPSS.
School
Improvement Team
The
chair of this committee would act as a liaison between
the PTA executive board and the School Improvement Team. It
would be ideal if the chair were a member of the SIT. (Parent
Involvement is required on all SITs.) Communication
between both of these advocacy groups is important to the
success of your school.
Special education
Objectives
of this committee are to 1) provide PTA members with current
information on the needs of children who require special
education; 2) report on the availability of such education;
and 3) propose the means by which more adequate education
can be provided.
Staff
Appreciation Committee
This
could be a sub-committee of the Hospitality committee. This
committee organizes one or two evening dinners during conference
week, a luncheon during staff appreciation week, and various
“surprise” gifts during the year to show our
appreciation for the staff.
Student Involvement
This
committee promotes the well being of secondary school students
whose problems as adolescents are varied and challenging. Encourage
middle and high schools to become PTSAs and involve students
as full partners.
Substance Abuse
This
committee encourages parents and teachers to work with
children and youth to prevent and combat the abuse of tobacco,
alcohol and other drugs. The committee should work
closely with PTA committees and local organizations concerned
with health.
Technology
(Website, list serve, onelist)
The committee
can maintain an already existing website, or establish
a website for your local PTA unit. Maintain other
technology related services to members. Can be utilized
as per the specific needs of your PTA.
Volunteer
This
committee coordinates volunteers for PTA sponsored activities
and/or school activities, upon request. Parents are
surveyed to see where they would like to volunteer their
time in the school. The committee prepares a list
of possible volunteers for each activity. PLEASE,
PLEASE, PLEASE, take the time to call members back if they
have taken the time to volunteer their personal time. Many
parents have said they signed up - but were never called. Be
careful not to turn away potential future leaders for your
PTA.
Ways and Means
The main
function of the of the Ways and Means Committee is to arrange
for fund raisers to support the PTA Budget which in turn
supports the goals established by the executive board. A
portion of the budget funds the Cultural Arts program. In
addition the budget can fund such projects as Safe-to-School,
Push-Up books and family activities. The chair can
oversee the activities of various subcommittees as it relates
to fund raising.
PTACHC
serves 71 Howard County, MD PTA/PTSAs and their nearly
28,808 members who, through advocacy, support the mission
of PTA.
If
you are interested in creating a new PTA contact us via
email at ptachc@gmail.com PTACHC
offices are located at: 10598 Marble Faun Ct., Columbia,
Md. 21044. Our office telephone number is: 410-740-5153.
Fax: 410-740-1207.
For the Membership
General information about PTACHC can
be found following the links.
For the member PTA organization
treasurers, the Treasurer Guidelines are
important to help understand the activities required of
a treasurer.
President's Message
Dear Friends:
Welcome to our web site.
It is the intent of PTACHC to provide not only information
about the happenings of the PTA Council, but also the
latest information concerning education and advocacy
for children and youth.
The PTACHC provides a way for
the local units to take action on issues of education,
children and youth through the combined strength of the
local PTAs when they are joined together in the Council.
We provide in-depth information
on current issues related to education. The Council
works to build local PTA support for local, state and national
legislative action.
We provide opportunities to address issues that reach beyond
the local school community creating a forum for public information
and debate on issues that affect children. We
represent the interest of the local members units before
the Board of Education and the County Council.
When asked the PTACHC will assist
the local units with any problem they have. We are
here to provide support and information. The Council
provides information, leadership, support, opportunities
to work together, leadership development, sharing of ideas,
etc. We work to help the member units increase their
effectiveness.
The PTA Council of Howard County
meets the first Monday of the month at the Board of Education,
the executive board of the PTACHC meets the third Monday
of the month at the Faulkner Ridge Center. All meetings
start at 7:00pm and are open to the public.
Sincerely,
Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso
President, PTA Council of Howard County
