Our town has a referendum coming soon that is for construction and expansion of our schools. Many of the PTO members (board & regular members) along with other parents, teachers, & townspeople were all part of the committee that worked with the state & the Board of Ed help decide on what work really needed to be done.

Our PTO completely supports this referendum and will be helping in anyway we can to get it to pass. Not because of any political postitions or alliances, but because the schools are in bad shape, the classrooms are overcrowded and it is in the best interests of the children.

How do you feel about your referendum? Do you feel that your school and the children really need what is being proposed? If you are oppossed to it and think it is not neccesary then I do not see a reason for you to support it.

If you think the referendum is important and needed for the children then I see nothing wrong with supporting it. You can get out information and the facts to the parents.

I need help with our messy situation. Our PTO is only 7 months old. We have just voted our by-laws in last night. There is an article in the by-laws stating that we are nonpartisan. From the first meetings to organize this PTO everyone agreed that we would remain neutral regarding anything political, even with regards to the school. (also we are applying for 501c3 and the IRS website is rather specific with regards to involving your group in politics.) Now, for the messy part, Our school district is having a problem with the educational fund, we dont have enough money. Long story short a referendum for a tax increase has failed. The school board is putting another referendum on the ballot in the spring and the whole town is divided. The superendendent of schools wants us to support the referendum since "most PTO's support their schools referendums". I'm starting to get the feeling that we will not have the backing of the school if we dont support this tax increase. Being the newly elected Pres. (last night) I feel like I was thrown to the wolves. Any input would be appreciated.