Lack of PTA members alarming | Letter

Last year I wrote a letter about PTA membership and feel compelled to do the same this year. In a time of school bonds failing and school budgets being cut, I feel it is so important for parents to be involved and support the schools their children attend.

September 27, 2011 6:50 pm

Dear Editor,

Last year I wrote a letter about PTA membership and feel compelled to do the same this year. In a time of school bonds failing and school budgets being cut, I feel it is so important for parents to be involved and support the schools their children attend.

I know everyone is very busy and PTA membership scares people because they think they will have to volunteer.  I have been a PTA member for years, but just last year I stepped up to be the membership chair for the Tahoma Middle School/Junior High PTA. I was amazed to find out that out of over 2,200 combined students, there were only 400 members of the PTA two years ago (parents and teachers included), the membership increased last year to 600 members, still only 25 percent, but an improvement.

This year my daughter is a sophomore at Tahoma High School and so I offered to assist with the membership committee at the high school. I was aghast to find out that there were only 100 PTA members last year while over 1,700 students attended Tahoma High School 2010-2011.

I was also amazed at how much the high school PTA does; student and teacher appreciation, breakfast for students prior to HSPE (high school proficiency exam) testing, support clubs and organizations, provide transportation for the junior art field trip, award senior community scholarships and much more – with just 100 members. I know everyone is aware that Maple Valley was voted one of the best cities to live in the U.S.  In a big part, that is because of our schools.

I strongly encourage everyone that has school age children to join their school’s PTA. Look for the membership form in your child’s paperwork, or go to the school’s PTA website. Your membership will be appreciated, even if you don’t volunteer.

If you do volunteer, I bet you’ll find you like it. I’ve never been around such a motivated group so dedicated to the success of our children.

Lastly, we don’t want to be the school district that has hardly any membership in the state’s PTA. Let’s show some pride Maple Valley, support your school’s PTA.

Melanie Caviness

Maple Valley