Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Page 1
Table of Contents:
Pg. 1 - Note from the President
Pg. 3 - Advocacy News
Pg. 6 - Reflections
Pg. 6 - 5 Minutes for Life
Pg. 8 - Proposed Bylaws
Pg. 9 - Month of the Military
Child
Pg. 11 - Family Engagement
Pg. 12 - Every Kid Healthy Week
Pg. 13 - Missioned Centered PTA
Pg. 16 - Board of Directors
April 2016
Everywhere you turn you now see political advertisements. Debates on your
television, billboard ads, and messages on your smartphones telling you
who to vote for. Your phone rings and it is a political survey about the
individuals running for an elected office. This time of year is when many
PTAs have questions as to what is their role in the political arena. If you
have a question, where do you turn to first? Your bylaws!!!!!!!!! The
following is a section in all bylaws. It is required that all bylaws contain
the following article. I only included the part of the article that pertains to
PTAs political activity.
*Article IIIBasic Policies
The following are basic policies of PTA:
Ohio PTA
40 Northwoods Blvd Ste A
Columbus, OH 43235-4718
(614) 781-6344
Fax: (614) 781-6349
office@ohiopta.org
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are
absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or
intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any
candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign
funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of
the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public
office clearly violates the prohibition against political campaign
activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of taxexempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Continued...
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April 2016
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April 2016
Advocacy News
School Discipline/Truancy Bill
Ohio PTA submitted proponent testimony for HB 410 sponsored by
Representatives Rezabek (R-Clayton) and Hayes (R-Harrison Township). HB
410 seeks to address habitual and chronic truancy and compulsory school
attendance by promoting interventions over suspensions. It would change Ohio
law to embrace best practices and keep students in school.
There are many reasons students miss school but two of the most common are
truancy and out-of-school suspensions and expulsions. Decreased school
attendance reduces students opportunities to learn and is linked to negative
school outcomes, including lower test scores and higher dropout rates, which
can have lifelong effects on employment and earning potential. A growing
body of research shows that students who are suspended or expelled are more
likely to have academic problems, drop out of school, and enter the juvenile
justice system.
Did you know that current Ohio law states that each school district must have a
zero tolerance school discipline policy for violent, disruptive or inappropriate
behavior, including excessive truancy? The problem with the zero tolerance
policies is that they are being used for a wide range of behaviors to
inappropriately push students out of school. Ohio law does not require schools
to determine why a student is truant or take any steps to help the student
before referring them to juvenile court. Juvenile court involvement can lead to
youth who are at low-risk of reoffending getting further involved in the juvenile
court system and not being linked to appropriate services that address the
underlying causes of their truancy. In 2013, there were over 7,000 occurrences
of suspensions and expulsions in Ohio due to truancy. Out of school
suspensions, expulsions and truancy disproportionately affect our most
vulnerable students - students of color, students with disabilities, and lowincome students.
Ohio PTA has partnered with the Juvenile Justice Coalition and other
advocates to support changes to Ohio law that eliminate zero tolerance
policies. We support a comprehensive approach to school discipline that
ensures safe schools conducive to learning without removing students from the
opportunity to learn. This does not mean that schools no longer have the
option to suspend or expel a child when warranted; rather it allows schools to
develop alternatives to out-of-school discipline. It is important for all students to
be engaged in educational opportunities and school.
Continued...
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April 2016
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April 2016
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April 2016
Reflections Update
Congratulations to all who participated in this years Reflections Program. The
Ohio winners will be on display at Ohio PTA Convention in April. The Reflections Roadshow will continue throughout the summer months and the artwork
will be returned in September.
Next years theme is What is Your Story?
There has been a change in the Reflections Program next year Ohio PTA will
be accepting 3D visual artwork starting January 2017. The Visual Arts category
will now include both 2D and 3D artwork. For two-dimensional artwork, the
works will be sent into the Ohio PTA office as usual. For three-dimensional
works, the student will submit 3 photographs (different views) of the piece as
one entry. Local units can choose to display 3D artwork at the local level judging, if they wish, but only the 3 photos of the piece will be sent to Ohio PTA for
judging. Other states have already implemented this and it is working well.
More details will be available in the Reflections Handbook available later this
summer.
Pam Bonnett
Director of Family-School Partnership
An effort is underway throughout Ohio to prevent drug abuse among Ohios most
vulnerable citizens our children. Within this initiative is a program called Five
Minutes For Life (5M4L). This is a collaborative effort between the Ohio National
Guard and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. 5M4L is an anti-drug message that
uses positive reinforcement to encourage youth to make strong life choices. This
educational campaign aims to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, illegal drug use
among youth. 5M4L is a tangible way for students to contribute to a safer Ohio.
The positive message does not stop after the 5M4L presentation. The Ambassador
Program ensures that an elite group of students will help promote living a drug and
alcohol free lifestyle. Utilizing these student ambassadors, we expand our footprint
and ensure our future leaders continue to receive an ongoing positive message from
these volunteers.
Continued...
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April 2016
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April 2016
Leadership development
Resource development
Cindy Schanz
Director of Bylaws and Standing Rules
Advertising in this newsletter does not imply endorsement by Ohio PTA
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April 2016
Continued...
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April 2016
Im a Military Child,
Where Im from,
Im a child of the world,
I bloom anywhere.
Im on an incredible journey,
I know once we leave here, I will probably never walk this way again,
Im an un-rooted child.
My life is mostly in brown boxes.
One more time again Im going to say goodbye to all that I know.
At this moment I dont belong anywhere;
Not in this place, and not in the new place Im moving to.
Its a puzzle of a thousand pieces that has been turned upside down,
Its up to you to put the puzzle back together again.
Im facing the unknown one more time,
My roots are short.
Unexpected separations,
Saying goodbye to friends.
Some lessons are harder than others.
But at the end, I have yet another success story.
Im flexible,
Im not going to bend out of shape.
Being strong is the only choice I have.
Im walking this path.
We are heading to a bright future together as a family and as a nation.
I proudly contribute to the peace and freedom we all enjoy.
Sleep peaceably in your beds at night United States of America,
My family and I got your back.
~Laura C. Marin, 11, Military
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April 2016
Pam Bonnett
Director of Family-School Partnership
fsp@ohiopta.org
Advertising in this newsletter does not imply endorsement by Ohio PTA
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April 2016
Lisa Catalano
Director of Health, Welfare & Safety
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April 2016
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April 2016
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April 2016
Question #3: Our PTA collects a Sunshine Fund for the purposes of
providing cards and/or other small token gifts to fellow PTA board members or
school staff members who have experienced an illness, death of a family
member or other unfortunate life event. Is this an appropriate line item in our
budget, or should this be kept separate from PTA funds?
Answer: Again, I will answer this question having consulted with National
PTA. Sunshine Funds should not be part of the general fund and should not
be a line item in the PTA budget. These direct contributions to individuals
could jeopardize your PTAs 501(c)(3) status. In most organizations, including
National and Ohio PTA, individual board members will make personal
contributions on a case by case basis as those situations arise.
We realize that not all circumstances are the same and that not all situations
may have been covered in this article. These areas are complicated and the
best way for your PTA to address them is to focus on the PTA mission and
purposes.
Thank you for all the great questions you and your PTAs bring forward that
help us all understand our finances and legal practices so much better! Keep
them coming!!
Suzie Smith-Rios
Secretary / Treasurer
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April 2016
DIRECTORS
President
Sheila Ragland
614-351-8083
president@ohiopta.org
President-elect
Susan Hans
440-243-8776
Advocacy
Tandra Rutledge
216-860-4575
advocacy@ohiopta.org
Diversity
Jeanne GroetzShockling
330-313-1544
diversity@ohiopta.org
FSP
Pam Bonnett
440-781-2927
fsp@ohiopta.org
Education
Jackie Arendt
440-230-1567
education@ohiopta.org
HWS
Lisa Catalano
440-498-9545
hws@ohiopta.org
Communications
Venezuela Robinson
440-786-9855
communications@ohiopta.org
Events
Linda Read
330-923-7248
events@ohiopta.org
Membership
Angela Revay
216-328-9668
membership@ohiopta.org
District 3
Lois Monroe
937-653-8741
da3@ohiopta.org
District 11
Debbie Tidwell
440-779-7141
da11@ohiopta.org
District 17
Carol Beasley
216-383-1963
da17@ohiopta.org
District 7
Dana Paul
440-843-6951
da7@ohiopta.org
District 12
Maria Lang
440-289-9696
da12@ohiopta.org
District 18
Shannon Weber
440-781-0036
da18@ohiopta.org
District 10
Terry Hickey
614-870-9570
da10@ohiopta.org
District 13
Rebecca Gawsyszawski
440-315-9097
da13@ohiopta.org
OFFICE
Sue Owen
office@ohiopta.org
presidentelect@ohiopta.org
VP Leadership-Interim
Venezuela Robinson
440-786-9855
vpleadership@ohiopta.org
VP Field Service
Lisa Weaver
330-825-8252
vpfieldservice@ohiopta.org
Secretary/Treasurer
Suzie Smith-Rios
614-878-3596
Sec-treasurer@ohiopta.org
DISTRICT ADVISORS
Jeri Gookin
jerigcr@sbcglobal.net