At last Tuesday's PTA we discussed some important PTA business, and we would like your input before we make critical decisions at May's PTA meeting.

First, the PTA has proposed making some changes to the PTA bylaws, the governing document for our organization. The PTA bylaws were written more than 15 years ago, and desperately need an overhaul to bring them up to date. The Executive Committee has proposed draft PTA bylaws, which you can pick up from the PTA general inbox in the school office or read on the Janney PTA website by clicking on "Draft Amendments to Janney PTA Bylaws." We will vote on the proposed amendments to the PTA bylaws at the next PTA meeting; any change to the bylaws requires two-thirds of the members in attendance to vote to support the changes.

Here is a summary of some of the most critical changes that have been proposed:

• correcting the membership and dues provisions which were outdated
• requiring the publication of the minutes of PTA Membership meetings and PTA Executive Board meetings
• creating an expectation that the vice-president would assume the presidency after one year
• changing the requirement that past presidents serve two years after the presidency to one year
• cutting down on general membership meetings to a minimum of quarterly meetings each year
• detailing financial procedures that govern budget preparation and changes to the budget
• incorporating an annual audit into the PTA bylaws

Please let us know what you think.  If you have proposed edits, amendments, or comments it would be extremely helpful if you would e-mail them to us in advance of the next PTA meeting so we can incorporate what we hope will be a great deal of feedback in an orderly manner.

The PTA also asked for and received a great deal of helpful feedback on our fundraising efforts and budget, which will be used as we develop the budget for 2008-2009 school year. The proposed budget will be presented at next month's PTA meeting, May 13, and we will be facing some difficult choices.

As of this writing, no one has stepped forward to chair our largest fundraiser, the Janney Auction. The auction is a terrifically fun event that raised over $70,000 for the PTA this year.That money goes to, among innumerable other things, library books, teaching materials, custodial services, a new soccer field, technology for teachers, furniture, and equipment.  You can be sure that your children benefit from PTA resources everyday; the PTA pays for educational material, educational spaces, and staff that are committed to Janney school. While we believe you and your children would notice a decline in the quality of life at Janney if the PTA did not support Janney School to the extent it does, we also believe the PTA could certainly change the way we fundraise and how much we raise. In fact, we will be forced to make fundraising changes and restructure our budget extensively if no one volunteers to coordinate next year's major fundraisers. The Janney PTA wants your input on the following tough questions. It is your money, your organization, and your kids' education we are trying to support so we hope you take some time to let us know what you think.

• How much money does the PTA need to raise for the next school year to provide a high quality education and a high quality environment?
• Should the PTA propose a balanced budget?
• Are there areas where the PTA should be doing more?
• Are there items in the PTA budget that could be cut? If so, what are they?
• How should the PTA raise the money we decide is necessary?
• Are there equivalent fundraising opportunities to the auction and the raffle?
• Is there the volunteer leadership to run these alternatives? If parents would rather give money than time to the PTA should we raise the student support fee if necessary to meet our budget goals?

A petition is being circulated to move Janney up on the city's modernization plan. It reads in part as follows:

Janney is essential to the continued and future health and vitality of our community and delivers excellent schooling. It is unacceptable that the now outdated modernization plan relegated Janney's expansion to begin only after 2013. As it appears increasingly unlikely that Janney will be expanded through a public-private partnership, and in light of DCPS's planned closing of 23 schools, the Mayor, Council, and DCPS leaders must act now to move Janney up to the first phase of school modernizations. Janney Elementary has a "design capacity" of 364 students. Current enrollment is just under 500 students, and the school has a proposed capacity of 550. Consider these facts:

• The building was constructed in 1925 and has scarcely been upgraded in the past 88 years
• Bathrooms (not ADA compliant), wiring, heating, and air conditioning all need modernization
• Because there are currently more than 100 students than the school can house, five classrooms are located in trailer units on the property. 
• The three story building does not provide essential accommodations for mobility-challenged students or staff
• The only large space serves as gym, lunch room, assembly space, and for plays and musical productions.
• The multi-activity room can never accommodate the entire student body at one time
• Due to space constraints, students must eat lunch within three separate lunch shifts of 20 minutes or less

Parents will be circulating the petition during the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-ups in order to collect signatures from interested parents and community members. You can also send an email to janneymodernization@yahoo.com to add your name to this petition. Please give your name, indicate whether you are a current Janney parent, and whether you are a DC voter. You can also use this email address if you have any questions.

Thank you.

It's Spring! And time for the annual Janney Spring Picnic. Mark your calendars and bring the family.

When: Friday, May 2nd
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Where: Janney playground

We will sell hot dogs, chips, and drinks. Each family should bring something to contribute as follows:

Last Name A-K bring a salad or side dish
Last Name L-Z bring a dessert

You can make a difference by staying alert and taking extra care while driving where children are present.

Emma Keyes, 1st Lieutenant