While a little late in chiming in here, I have to say this:
PTAs and PTOs are not just ATMs and support groups...they should be
advocacy groups for the children of your respective schools. Apparently, because the state requires notification to be given to your group, someone else feels the same way also ...so that parents have another means of staying informed (besides relying on district and school communications) and taking (banded, group) action if necessary.
Don't just pass along the info simply because it was (perhaps begrudgingly) passed along to you. Help inform your parents as to what it means for the school and what it can mean for the children in those classrooms. Talk to the teachers who have been affected by these waivers and find out what it meant for instruction in their classrooms. What could it mean for instruction if the waiver were expanded to include additional students, and how difficult would
that be for the district to accomplish since no one has raised a stink about it all this time?
Invite a representative from the school district to address this topic (answer questions, explain it, etc.) at one of your meetings (which gives that person an opportunity to hear first hand what parents think/feel about it as well). And if a number of your parents have strong feelings about this, put it to a vote of the membership as to whether or not they can organize and go to the BOE meetings with the full official backing of your group.
Doing this will help send the message that:
A) your group is, in fact, a principled advocate for the children of your school & district
your group cares about and is aware of (keeping an eye on) things that go on not just in your school, but at the district level as well
C) your teachers can count on your group to back them on the "big stuff" (even if you don't agree with other things)
Advocacy and activism aren't for everyone...just like leadership and decision-making aren't either. If this isn't up your alley, it may fit someone else in your group like a glove. Let the natural activists take up the arms - just like leaders plan and lead, the creative thinkers plan and pull off great activities, the doers volunteer at school, and the bean-counters, well, they count the beans. Just don't pass up an opportunity for your group to be a voice for others who may not have discovered theirs yet.