Parent groups focus on funding schools MyDesert.com The Desert Sun:
"Even though many parents at Ronald Reagan Elementary school in Palm Desert have lost jobs and fallen on hard times, families have joined together to raise enough money to bring back art and music programs this year."
“Our school has a lot of heart,” Parent Teach Organization president Pamela Wise said. “We just dig in and we always deliver.”
As schools across the state and the nation struggle with crippling budget cuts, parent-teacher organizations and their fundraising power are increasingly called on to help pay for everything from staff to books to technology.
“I don't know of a school district that hasn't been impacted and hasn't turned to their parents and community to assist,” said California State Parent Teacher Association President Jo Loss.
This year, Cahuilla Elementary School's PTO decided to shift its focus from field trips and other regular classroom expenses to technology, said PJ Davis-Lewallen, PTO president for the Palm Springs school.
The group still wants to provide those educational trips, but decided with input from teachers and the principal, “let's focus on more things that are more important for education,” she said.
Some schools and all three local districts have established nonprofit educational foundations to help cover costs.
"Even though many parents at Ronald Reagan Elementary school in Palm Desert have lost jobs and fallen on hard times, families have joined together to raise enough money to bring back art and music programs this year."
“Our school has a lot of heart,” Parent Teach Organization president Pamela Wise said. “We just dig in and we always deliver.”
As schools across the state and the nation struggle with crippling budget cuts, parent-teacher organizations and their fundraising power are increasingly called on to help pay for everything from staff to books to technology.
“I don't know of a school district that hasn't been impacted and hasn't turned to their parents and community to assist,” said California State Parent Teacher Association President Jo Loss.
This year, Cahuilla Elementary School's PTO decided to shift its focus from field trips and other regular classroom expenses to technology, said PJ Davis-Lewallen, PTO president for the Palm Springs school.
The group still wants to provide those educational trips, but decided with input from teachers and the principal, “let's focus on more things that are more important for education,” she said.
Some schools and all three local districts have established nonprofit educational foundations to help cover costs.