The Save Pleasanton Schools webpage currently shows $9,200 raised to date.

Web Link

Is there a handy list somewhere of PTA presidents? Why not call your school's PTA if you have questions?

Posted by pta member, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, From another thread on Mar 10, 2009 at 3:46 pm

Dear Boycott,

>I urge you to find out where from the various PTA's and other parent groups budget the donated funds are coming from. HPMS PTA took it from staff development with the approval of their teacher rep and the principal because no further staff development was being paid for this year anyway. No class funds were touched on purpose. All this was voted on at a general membership meeting. You can make all the fuss you want but if you don't know the entire story you really should do some research.<

Although you voted on it with the approval of the site, isn't the reason that you are wanting the parcel tax is because the schools don't have money?

Because I am asking the question, it's a community team effort. If they are not afraid to give money, then they shouldn't be afraid to post.

Thanks, for the web link, but that is why I am asking the question. Wow, for $9200 dollars, this entire amount came from the parent/teacher organizations in Pleasanton? MMM.. What could $9200 dollars done at the school sites?

The entire amount did not come from PTAs.

I made a personal donation, as others did also, at the rally on Sunday.

The SPS organization has filed with the California Fair Political Pratices Commission, and I am sure they will meet disclosure requirements. However, those requirements do not include responding to requests for information on an anonymous website.

If you don't want to ask your PTA president, you can call the FPPC for information about what is required. They even have a toll-free number: (1-866-275-3772)

Thank you for the team effort. But I am not asking for the committee to come forward, I am asking each school site to show a good faith gesture and post. It's not a secret, is it?

I heard $2,000 from Valleyview, I wonder if this will effect any future fundraisers.

Thanks, Bill. I wonder what $2000.00 could have been used for AT the school site for. Fundraisers, that's an interesting question. Will there be trust from parents in giving out again, if this parcel tax fails.

PMS showed some restraint only $500. How many packages of gift wrap is that?

valley view did not vote to give any money at this time, they only voted to support the initative, please don't post inflamatory misinformation.

The PTA money is spent appropriately to donate to the Save Pleasanton Schools. To ask "where could this have been used in the schools" instead is short-sighted. You could second guess any way they choose to spend their fundraising dollars. The people who volunteer on these committees are honest, hard-working parents who care about the children and the schools. How dare you compare apples to oranges and unsuccessfully try to undermine an effort to help our schools in the long run. Looks like you are desperate....

I remember that each gift wrap roll was seven dollars. But I also remember that the money went directly back into the classrooms.

Thanks for update about Valley View. This is why I would like to hear from the parent organizations themselves.

At each PTA unit (school), a portion of your membership fee is given to Pleasanton PTA Council - .50-.75 cents. Pleasanton PTA Council members vote on how to use those funds. Any PTA member who attends a council meeting may vote.

Amador Valley High School membership has not taken a stand for or against the parcel tax; their executive board is asking for input from PTSA members. See below for article from the AV Express, the Amador online newsletter (website www.amadorvalleyptsa.org) A portion of this article was taken from this website and included in the Pleasanton Weekly article "500 Jam..."; AVHS PTSA leadership was not interviewed for the PW article nor did they provide the article to the PW.



From the AV Express

AVHS PTSA Parcel Tax Position Update

The PUSD Board of trustees has voted to put a parcel tax of $233 per year for four years on the June 2 ballot. Follow this link to the Pleasanton Weekly article if you wish to learn more about the language of the measure (what it will fund) and how the trustees arrived at the amount. View current district information about the PUSD budget here.



At this time, AVHS PTSA has not taken a vote on whether or not to support the parcel tax, but we are attempting to keep everyone informed about developments and events concerning the PUSD budget situation. California State PTA promotes reforming state and federal education financing, however they do support local funding measures as a response to the recent significant cuts made to school district budgets by the state; they offer workshops on parcel tax support and address it in their "toolkit" containing rules and regulations. The Pleasanton PTA Council has voted to support the effort here in Pleasanton.



A discussion of the parcel tax is on the agenda and AVHS PTSA may take a vote on whether and how to support the measure at the March 18 meeting. Although less than one percent of the membership typically attends the monthly general meeting, the PTSA president is interested in hearing the opinions of all members. Please email Mary Holmberg if you would like to address whether AVHS PTSA should support the campaign. Comments are welcome and names will be kept confidential. Thank you to those that have already sent email; your input is valuable. PTA bylaws do not allow voting by proxy, but the sense of the emails will be presented for consideration. To make sure that your voice is heard and your vote is counted in PTSA, please attend meetings on the third Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 PM in Room G-1.



Download the agenda for the March 18 PTSA meeting.

I don't understand your expectation. I'm sure you could get this information if you really wanted it. To expect each "school site" to post accurate information in response to a question on an Internet message board and then insinuate they are withholding information is ridiculous. I doubt that an employee or volunteer from each "school site" has been tasked to follow up on ridiculous requests from Internet message boards.

How fascinating this blog can have people (Paula) ask the question and demand those (PTA and the committee supporting to "Save the schools") to reveal themselves, and you do not have the integrity or character to step forward at the public forums or your own parent school meetings to voice your opinions? Yet, you demand to know this information. It is public in

Hide behind your blog, or go to the meetings and get involved. The PTA and the schools who have chosen to both take a stand/donate funds are well within their PTA guidelines to do so. You lost your vote when you did not attend the meetings. Call the following.

**If you don't want to ask your PTA president, you can call the FPPC for information about what is required. They even have a toll-free number: (1-866-275-3772)

Don't lose sight of one thing. It is for the kids, they are the main concern.

I'm not an attorney, but my understanding of the law regarding non-profits ( which I believe a PTA is )is that they sre prohibited from making political contributions. They would have to form a Political Action Committee (PAC) and solicit comtributions through it. So they could be breaking the law. But I'm sure they think its OK because its for the Kids.
I think the Save our Schools committee should have to disclose where every contribution in excess of $25 came from, name, address, ocupation and employer, just like the mayor and council candidates had to do.

Bruce, there's information on the Pleasanton PTA website about the legal requirements regarding political campaigns. Here's the link:

Web Link

I want to clarify the source of the our current donations. To date our donations have only come from individuals. No PTA's, PFC's or other parent groups in Pleasanton nor any other organization have made a donation to our committee. This committee is following all FPPC guidelines and regulations. Per those regulations, the source of all of our donations will be public information.

Are there other ways we could save our schools without the parcel tax? Have we looked at every available solution? For the band/strings programs are there retired individuals that might be willing to donate their time to run the program? For the libraries have we considered looking into volunteers? What about getting current psych students to volunteer time as counselors at our schools? Have we given any thought into how we could resource some of the positions through volunteers? Many organizations and school run themselves on volunteers.

Also, what does it cost us to run all the extra programs like dual immersion, discovery, laptop, strings, band, etc? Should the parents who choose to put their children in these programs fund the cost? Scholarships could be established for children who need the help in order to get into the programs. Should we be looking at anything above the basic education requirements as an extra and have the parents wanting those services contribute donations if they want to use them?

We need to think out of the box. Not just resting everything on one way of solving the issue and hoping that it will work out.

dancermom,

“The PTA money is spent appropriately to donate to the Save Pleasanton Schools. To ask "where could this have been used in the schools" instead is short-sighted.”

As a Valley View parent, I don’t happen to agree with your assessment and will not give another penny until the election is over.

This thread (initiated by paula ... thank you!) is just the start of a bitter battle over differences of opinion re a parcel tax and how PTA money is spent. Let the war of words begin.

I have to agree with Parent, a resident of the Country Fair neighborhood. We parents need to take a more active role in the education of our children. Why not volunteer to help students struggling at reading, to make up for the elimination of reading specialists.
We absolutely need to come up with innovative ways of surviving these tough times, now more so than ever.

All persons that support our kids and teachers but oppose the parcel tax should show their solidarity by wearing green next Friday the 17th!

Green of course represents the color of the dollars that should not be wasted on this parcel tax.

Wearing green on Friday the 17th is a show of opposition to the parcel tax.

Green means:
Pro-kids
Pro-teacher
No parcel tax

Wearing green on St. Patrick's day which is the 17th and Tuesday, not Friday isn't the right thing to do. Let the children have fun with St. Patty's day and don't try to turn it into something else!

Teachers should keep the politics off of the campus and leave the kids out of it!!!!!!!!

I will wear green on the 17th in opposition of the parcel tax.

Like the Country Fair parent said...the 17th is St. Patrick's Day. What color do people wear for St. Patrick's Day? Green. You aren't proving anything other than your stupidity. Green will mean Happy St. Patrick's day, not we are against the parcel tax. If you want to make a point think it through.

I dont see anywhere in her thread that she was DEMANDING anything from the groups. Paula doesn't hide behind her posts. She has been very active at the school sites and at the board meetings. What about you?

Please clear up for me that if the parent groups at the schools were voting on financial support for this tax and checks have been written, and the SOSC posted they don't have that money, then where is the money going?

Really....is the 17th St. Patrick's day? What an interesting coincidence.
I will wear green on the 17th in opposition to the parcel tax.

"Parent, a resident of the Del Prado",
It isn't easy being green. Name calling is not nice!

Posted by Parent, a resident of the Del Prado neighborhood, 52 minutes ago

Like the Country Fair parent said...the 17th is St. Patrick's Day. What color do people wear for St. Patrick's Day? Green. You aren't proving anything other than your stupidity. Green will mean Happy St. Patrick's day, not we are against the parcel tax. If you want to make a point think it through.

Regarding the above post: Seems to me Paddy did think this through - he's just very clever!

Response to "
Also, what does it cost us to run all the extra programs like dual immersion, discovery, laptop, strings, band, etc? Should the parents who choose to put their children in these programs fund the cost? Scholarships could be established for children who need the help in order to get into the programs. Should we be looking at anything above the basic education requirements as an extra and have the parents wanting those services contribute donations if they want to use them?"

The dual immersion program is not an "extra program". It costs no more to fund than the EO program at that school. The only difference is that the DI teachers are required to have an additional credential.- the B.CLAD. Apart from that the materials etc are the same- just in Spanish. It is also not in any danger of being cut all together, although it's teachers are disproportionately represented on the pink slip list!

I have been working to educate myself on both sides of this argument and have yet to make a decision I'm comfortable with. I may not make my decision until I step foot into the voting booth. I have an incredible amount of respect for my childs teachers and staff, that being said, I would like to ask that this issue stay OUT of the classroom.

My, very young, school-age child came home from school today and asked me if it's, "true that the money's all gone and the teachers will be gone too". The concept of this issue is difficult for young children to comprehend. I further explained, in the best way I could what was going on in our community. This was extremely, emotionally disturbing to my child.

I did not give permission for my child to be informed of such a complex issue and I will be taking it up with the school.

Please, please, please....leave this issue to the voting community to educate themselves. It should not be discussed with young children.

I remain on the fence, and telling my young child that the "teachers will be gone" is NOT OK!!!

>The PTA money is spent appropriately to donate to the Save Pleasanton Schools. To ask "where could this have been used in the schools" instead is short-sighted. <

>Posted by Treasurer, Committee to Save Pleasanton Schools, a resident of the Pleasanton Valley neighborhood, 4 hours ago

I want to clarify the source of the our current donations. To date our donations have only come from individuals. No PTA's, PFC's or other parent groups in Pleasanton nor any other organization have made a donation to our committee. This committee is following all FPPC guidelines and regulations. Per those regulations, the source of all of our donations will be public information.
Posted by Treasurer, Committee to Save Pleasanton Schools, a resident of the Pleasanton Valley neighborhood, 4 hours ago
I want to clarify the source of the our current donations. To date our donations have only come from individuals. No PTA's, PFC's or other parent groups in Pleasanton nor any other organization have made a donation to our committee. This committee is following all FPPC guidelines and regulations. Per those regulations, the source of all of our donations will be public information.

So if you donated money from your school funds to the committee and this posting says that they did not receive it, where is the money going?

I am asking for questions for clarifications, not demanding nor being desperate. Just would like some answers. If it too difficult to have these questions answered, then so be it.

Many teachers are good. I know the good teachers won't be discussing this in class.

So, if my child comes home telling me that the money is gone and with it the teachers will go too, I have one thing to say regarding that teacher:
"Kido, see, the teacher is just there for the money".

Sounds terrible, but if that's what is being said it's either true or a show to distress and pressure the kids. Using kids emotions and causing this kind of stress at home is irresponsible.

In response to the post below:

Posted by Angie, a member of the Foothill High School community, 7 hours ago

I have to agree with Parent, a resident of the Country Fair neighborhood. We parents need to take a more active role in the education of our children. Why not volunteer to help students struggling at reading, to make up for the elimination of reading specialists.

We absolutely need to come up with innovative ways of surviving these tough times, now more so than ever.

Are you kidding me? Do you think a parent volunteer can take the place of a professional who has a reading credential, multiple subjects credential, usually a Masters degree, and years of experience along with training to be an effective reading specialist? Why does everyone think anyone can teach? So, if Kaiser starts cutting back on doctors, let's go in and volunteer to take their places. I like kids maybe I can be a pediatrician.

Right on, Mom2. I think parent volunteers are great and I know the teachers really appreciate the help. I love volunteering in my kids' classrooms and library, and consider myself an intelligent person. But I am not qualified to fill the shoes of so many of the positions that are going to be eliminated. People really seem to underestimate just what it takes to be a good teacher, librarian, reading specialist. Honestly, I'm not so sure I'd want just any person who cleared the volunteer check to be teaching my struggling child how to read.

Not to mention that volunteerism at our school is already on the decline because more parents are going back to work or working longer hours. Expecting more time as well as more expertise is just unrealistic.

What about the kids??! This diatribe is already affecting our children, who have heard about tomorrow's "pink" Friday associated with all the pink slips that were issued today. Our children are hearing all the negative information and prognostications from the teachers, staff and administrators. We had to calm our child down this evening and let him/her know that the pink slips were only a warning, not a final decision on layoff's for next year. This is getting very tenuous and I'm not looking forward to the parcel tax vote, or what may come of it.

Volunteer won't be able to replace what the teachers do. They have years of experience, know how to teach, deals with issues.

Just look at your own; have you ever ask your kids' teacher for advice on your kid? Teacher will know when a kid is having an attention disorder issue, behavioral issue, or learning issue. This is due to they have seen large number of kids in their life and dealt with them.

I don't really see the point of this thread; it was started by asking each school site how much they contributed, but then as soon as unconfirmed info or rumor, the post became negative by questioning on how that money could be spent better, without knowing if that's a fact or rumor. You can ask Save Pleasanton School organization directly, and perhaps you get the actual fact, instead of rumor.

I'm not a teacher, not a PUSD staff, just a Pleasanton resident concern about the sad state of education here.

>I don't really see the point of this thread; it was started by asking each school site how much they contributed, but then as soon as unconfirmed info or rumor, the post became negative by questioning on how that money could be spent better, without knowing if that's a fact or rumor. You can ask Save Pleasanton School organization directly, and perhaps you get the actual fact, instead of rumor.<

>Posted by Treasurer, Committee to Save Pleasanton Schools, a resident of the Pleasanton Valley neighborhood, 11 hours ago

I want to clarify the source of the our current donations. To date our donations have only come from individuals. No PTA's, PFC's or other parent groups in Pleasanton nor any other organization have made a donation to our committee. This committee is following all FPPC guidelines and regulations. Per those regulations, the source of all of our donations will be public information.<

The question still remains unanswered. Where, if any money at all has been donated by the school sites going? The above repost by the treasurer, of SOPS, states they don't have it.

>Posted by still a friend of the troll, a resident of the Another >Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, 2 minutes ago
>The question still remains unanswered. Where, if any money at all has >been donated by the school sites going? The above repost by the >treasurer, of SOPS, states they don't have it.

Please read the original question posted by Paula, and read the answer from the Treasurer. For your convenience, here are the post and reply...

The original question posted by Paula asked as follows
>Schools & Kids, posted by paula, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Mar 11, 2009 at 7:45 pm

>I would like all of the school parent organizations in Pleasanton to
>disclose on this thread how much money was donated to the Save Our
>Pleasanton Schools Committee. I have heard many rumors from many
>people and would like to know the real dollar amounts.

The post from Treasurer, answered the question directly as follows:

>Posted by Treasurer, Committee to Save Pleasanton Schools, a resident of the Pleasanton Valley neighborhood, 11 hours ago

>I want to clarify the source of the our current donations. To date
>our donations have only come from individuals. No PTA's, PFC's or
>other parent groups in Pleasanton nor any other organization have
>made a donation to our committee. This committee is following all >FPPC guidelines and regulations. Per those regulations, the source
>of all of our donations will be public information.


The question has been answered. They said the money contributed are by individuals, not from PTA, PFC or other groups.

Stop spreading rumors, and fears.

Matt, u r n idiot!

The teachers and admin. staff are already taking this thing "to the streets" and influencing our children, who are saying they will no longer see them at their school next year. This is total crap and a way to get the parents' sympathy, but it's not getting ours ... only the opposite. This whole situation really sucks, as I think we can all agree on that one issue!

From above posts:
>PMS showed some restraint only $500.<

>“The PTA money is spent appropriately to donate to the Save Pleasanton Schools.<

>I want to clarify the source of the our current donations. To date

>our donations have only come from individuals. No PTA's, PFC's or

>other parent groups in Pleasanton nor any other organization have

>made a donation to our committee. This committee is following all >FPPC guidelines and regulations. Per those regulations, the source

>of all of our donations will be public information.

All the person is asking is, if the PTA gave the money to Save the Pleasanton School and PMS gave $500 dollars, and the treasurer, says they received no PTA funds, there where is it?

All they are asking is a simple question. In fact Paula give up on her last post. How am I now spreading rumors and fears, in asking the same question that still has not been answered? Dude, chill out.

Teachers are not the enemy here.

Teachers did not cause the budget crisis.

Teachers are real people, a number of them with husbands/wives in the private sector who got laid off as well.

Many teachers got laid off this week. Getting pink slips is not a scare tactic. It is PUSD's way of trying to keep our schools operational in the light of the tight budget.

Stop attacking your child's teacher. Show a little compassion and empathy. If you are not willing to be productive and constructive, then homeschool your kids and get them away from these teachers and the school district that you scorn so much.

We're intentionally giving topics pertaining to the June 2 parcel tax measure and teacher layoffs a rest because the postings have become repetitive and, in some instances, accusatory and hurtful to teachers and other employees of the school district who are unable to respond to postings, most of which are made under the cloak of anonymity. The postings online will remain, but future postings to these threads or new ones dealing with teacher layoffs and the parcel tax can be made only by registered users of the Pleasanton Weekly forum.