beignets has a great point, I know in New York State that are doing more and more mandated testing, testing that takes time, and money away from our children. Do we really need all these tests?

As the government asks for more and more out of our districts they don't seem to supplement for those costs, so where does that money come from? When your teachers are being taken out for grading state tests, teaching more for tests, put extra time in after school for these tests, that money comes from our local budgets.

It is like a school in need of improvement, if a child is below the poverty level then the district has to offer after school programs from outside the district to help that child make benchmarks..BUT if the child isn't reaching benchmarks and not below that poverty level that child can not participate in the same after school programs yet instead get extra help during the day...end result...more teachers...more money...but not government aide. It is sad to say but local school boards are being left out and holding the bag to cover all of these costs. Okay off my soap box!

Oh and, we also have no nurse, either. pretty soon we will have no teachers, at the rate we are going. GOOD LUCK. better to try to keep the status quo rather than get stuff back that they cut out, but probably its the state level that needs to hear from you , too, and not just the board level.

I hear you. We have no science music library art or gym monies, all went out of style, it seems.

You can go to the school board and voice opinion, but go as a PARENT and not as pres. of the PTO.

Being involved in many decision making teams in my district and having a husband who has been on the school board for about the last five years I have to take what JHB has said, when these people get together to make budget decisions it is the hardest thing to watch. I sat on the budget team about four years ago as a building rep. I had never seen anything like it, when your cost associated with labor, insurance, utilities, etc goes up just to maintain the same level you are often talking a tax increase.

My husband says that budget time is the hardest time, he actually can not sleep at night because of those decisions. It is a tough call. I understand how angry you are and I would be, I do however caution you from being a rep for your group on this. You need to portray yourself as Mom so and so. Why do I say that? because even though you are against it with all right, not everyone may be, your group is also a representative of your school. Your school needs that morale support of the pto's, you could say that when the going gets rough type thing.

I like to say that I may not support every choice my school board makes but I know as parent group leader that as a part of my district I have to maintain that respect and teamwork attitude. Now on a personal note I have been known to B$#@! like heck but not using my title!
One more note often once these decisions have been made it is because there is nothing else they can cut...and reversing these decisions is very tough. If you want to fight it find concrete things that you see as "luxuries" and start from there...good luck!

I don't blame you for being upset - but do keep the following in mind. If your district is that desperate to balance funding, what will they cut instead? Do you/your group have any suggestions?

I serve on several high level committees for our district. Transportation costs are skyrocketing, health insurance is going up, teachers deserve better saleries, buildings and equipment need to be maintained or replaced. And then - of course -there's the entire teaching side of curriculum, supplies, programs, technology.

In these meetings I watch our leadership making very tough decisions about how to stretch the limited dollars. No matter what they cut, people are unhappy.

Again - I'm not saying you aren't right to take action. But can you make any suggestions of something concrete that can be cut back in order to free up funds for those programs?

Wow, mad is a good thing to be right now. Those are important and necessary programs. Sadly, many schools are forced to function without a music program, but science? That's a core curriculum subject.

You're right to worry about your dual role as concerned parent and parent group leader. No matter how hard you try to keep them separate, when you speak publicly many will assume that you're speaking on behalf of the PTO and with their blessing. And if any of your comments should land in the local paper, they won't be say "mommytlc said,". They'll say, "Mrs. tlc, President of XYZ PTO said,".

I agree that the news should be shared within the community and hopefully in enough time to get to a school board meeting and make a difference. If you can somehow take a less visible role in the initiative, leaving the leadership voices to others, you can still help get the message out.