—————> Watch replay of March 4 Candidate Forum: Click Here
Letter from the President (SCPTA)
Hello, I hope this finds you well. It has been over a year since we have last seen one another and I am continually amazed at how you continue to serve your school and community.
As I look ahead to brighter days, I wonder what the future must have looked like for The Boyd School Mothers Circle in 1909, later to be “Springfield Council of the National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations”, today’s SCPTA as they were trying to solve an urgent health and sanitation problem. The community water buckets were being shared with a stray dog!!
It has been a trying time for all of us and I thank you for your support. Please know that Council is here to support you and your unit. We are able to help with officer nominations, elections, changing and updating bylaws, audits, treasurer reports, budgets and anything else you may need. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me to discuss successes, frustrations, ideas or ways to improve. I believe together we can continue to make a difference just as the women did together in 1909.
PTA is the largest volunteer led advocacy organization in the United States. I am honored to be a part of PTA and leave my mark on history. Won’t you join me?
Mandy Mitchell
President, Springfield Council of PTAs
417-496-8980 text/call | president@scptamo.com
Letter from the President (MOPTA)
Now is the time to elected officers! Please make sure you are forming nominating committees and inviting all your members to consider serving on your board. Do not forget to turn in your officers to Missouri PTA once they are elected!
Convention is coming October 1-3, 2021 at the Hilton Inn in Columbia, MO. As you create your budget consider adding a line for convention. This weekend is full of valuable training and networking opportunities with units just like you from across Missouri.
SB55 is still on the calendar for the Senate. It is not too late to contact your state senator and let the know to vote NO to this omnibus bill that will forever change education in Missouri. For more information contact Paula McKinney MO PTA, VP of Legislation and Advocacy or visit the Missouri PTA webpage: JC/DC Critical Issue Alert!
Carla Wiese, President, Missouri PTA carlaw@mopta.org
From the National PTA President
Listen to National PTA President Leslie Boggs’ podcast on meeting students’ mental health needs during the pandemic:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
National PTA is now accepting applications for the 2021 Jan Harp Domene Diversity and Inclusion Award. The application deadline is March 14 at 11 p.m. EST, 8 p.m. PST. The Award recognizes PTAs that best demonstrate outstanding achievement in the areas of diversity and inclusion, as well as efforts to end discriminatory practices.
This award will be presented to one state PTA, one district/council/region PTA and one local PTA at the 2021 National PTA Convention & Expo in June.
Share how your PTA has championed diversity & inclusion for a chance to WIN $1,000!
New! Multicultural Calendar
The rich diversity in our communities is reflected in the observances celebrated by various cultures and populations. National PTA’s Center for Family Engagement has created this Multicultural Calendar to highlight and celebrate the diversity in our PTA and school communities! 2021 Multicultural Calendar
Challenge for March 2021
Use your answers to these questions to help gain knowledge of how to better understand and assist students and to develop a more inclusive atmosphere:
1. In what ways might poverty/class have an impact on students experience.
2. How might race impact student experience?
3. Between Poverty and Race, which might have the greatest impact on students experience?
Don’t forget to visit our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion webpage for this month’s report from SCPTA’s Diversity Advisor, Toi Allen.
The PTA Clothing Bank
I cannot believe Spring Break is upon us. February went by in the blink of an eye. On the 4th we welcomed several shoppers. It was great to see so many faces. Mother Nature changed our course the next two weeks. We returned to the Clothing Bank on the 25th. We were not open, but we were joined by a group of young women enrolled in the Mercy BASE program. They helped, sort, stock, clean and prepare for our next shopping day. It was a great pleasure having them over.
We will be open March 4th 12-4:30 and March 25th 10-4:30. Also, you may drop off donations during these times. Other tentative dates are April 8 & 22; May 6 & 20.
If you have any questions, please contact us via Facebook and watch our page for updates.
Thank you for your support of The PTA Clothing Bank and students of SPS!
Taryn Raidel, VP of Health and Public Services
Treasurer’s Report and Tips for Treasurers
Username: council@scptamo.com Password: SCPTA.658
Bank account reconciliation helps you compare your financial records to your bank account to ensure you are entering everything accurately. It can help uncover mistakes so you can ensure you’re maintaining accurate records. Reconciling your bank account also helps to prevent fraud. How often should you reconcile your books – every month. Errors such as number transpositions, forgetting to record a transaction or recording one twice can throw your books off balance. If you wait too long to correct these issues, it can be a real chore to track them down months in the future.
Be sure to send National/State PTA dues to the state office for all dues collected. The number of memberships sold should balance to the number paid to MOPTA for the school year. Use the dues reporting form and new MOPTA address: PO BOX 30545, Columbia, MO 65205.
From the Parliamentarian
March is election of officers month. Once the officers have been elected at the general meeting, whether they are new officers or returning officers, their names must be sent to the State PTA Office so the officers will receive the information they will need to perform the duties of their office. Please use the form on the Missouri PTA website to communicate your new officers’ names and contact information.
You may find the use of a script helpful in running the election of officers. Please check your bylaws for the proper procedure and refer to this tool if necessary: https://scptamo.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/electionscript.pdf
● If a nominee for an office cannot be found, the nominating committee must continue to function until a suitable candidate is found or until the election.
● If a candidate withdraws prior to the election, the nominating committee must resume its search for an appropriate candidate.
● If a person is elected to office and later withdraws, the filling of the office is handled as listed on the bylaws for any vacancy in office, usually by the officers of the board.
SCPTA 2021-2022 Officer Nominees
President – Mandy Mitchell
VP of Organization and Development – Bill Peterson
VP of Health and Public Services – Taryn Raidel
VP of Programs – Jessica Rosa
VP of Promotions – Heather Buckner
Treasurer – Becky Volz
Secretary – Sarah Whitten
To read bios of candidates for Council Officers, please see this link > Council Officer Candidates Pictures/Bios
March 4 – SCPTA General Meeting – SCPTA Officer Election and School Board Candidates’ Forum – 9:30am via Zoom
March 4 – PTA Clothing Bank open for shoppers and donations
March 9 – 11 National PTA Legislative Conference
March 11 – SCPTA Exec Board meeting – 9:15 am via Zoom
March 15 – 19 SPS Spring Break!
March 21 – SCPTA Reflections Winners Announced!
March 25 – PTA Clothing Bank open for shoppers and donations
March 31 – Send New Officer Information to Missouri PTA
April 1 – SCPTA General Membership meeting via Zoom – 9:30 am
April 8 – PTA Clothing Bank open for shoppers and donations
April 15 – SCPTA Exec Board meeting – 9:15 am via Zoom
April 22 – PTA Clothing Bank open for shoppers and donations
May 6 – SCPTA General Membership meeting – 9:30 am via Zoom (SCPTA Officer Installation)
May 6 – PTA Clothing Bank open for shoppers and donations
May 20 – Springfield Council of PTAs Exec Board meeting – 9:15 am via Zoom
May 20 – PTA Clothing Bank open for shoppers and donations
Every Child. One Voice.
PTA’s mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
PTA Values
- Collaboration: We will work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to broaden and enhance our ability to serve and advocate for all children and families.
- Commitment: We are dedicated to children’s educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement, while remaining accountable to the principles upon which our association was founded.
- Diversity: We acknowledge the potential of everyone without regard, including but not limited to: age, culture, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, legal status, marital status, mental ability, national origin, organizational position, parental status, physical ability, political philosophy, race, religion, sexual orientation, and work experience.
- Respect: We value the individual contributions of members, employees, volunteers, and partners as we work collaboratively to achieve our association’s goals.
- Accountability: All members, employees, volunteers, and partners have a shared responsibility to align their efforts toward the achievement of our association’s strategic initiatives.
Email: president@scptamo.com clothingbank@scptamo.com
Mailing Address: SCPTA, 1458 E Chestnut Expwy, Spfld, MO 65802
Facebook: Springfield Council of PTAs; PTA Clothing Bank; SCPTA President’s Network
Springfield Council of PTAs 