First on behalf of PTAC I appreciate all of the information presented during Dr. Ponds’ report. I want to recognize how elated parents and students are about the start of hybrid instruction. In-person and virtual students are happy to see their classmates in their classrooms, even on their screens. We thank Dr. Ponds, the BOE, our teachers and the MEA for helping to make this happen.
– Good news about the middle schools going back on May 10th. But the parents of the approx.. 2000 high school students ask to know when they’ll be going back and what the delay is about. Even though we’re seeing high school athletes on various fields around town this is only a small fraction of students. We are still very concerned about the students attending school at home for over a year particularly those who are suffering ill effects from social isolation.
– There was a lot of talk in the fall and into budget season about our buildings and the need for repairs that have been put off for too long. We ask to know when we’ll be seeing the newly developed Long Range Facilities Plan.
– About public comment at board meetings – we did get a lot of reaction when board members touched on the idea of limiting public comment. We’ve since learned that nothing has been decided and PTAC looks forward to talking with the BOE about creative ways to listen and respond to input from parents, especially because involvement will increase as more parents work from home.
– Congratulations to Edgemont PTA for winning the National PTA 2021 Jan Harp Domene Diversity and Inclusion Award. Our PTAS share best practices with regard to inclusion, and about how to apply for these honors so we expect that there will be many more such honors in the future
– PTAC thanks Eve and Jessica for their years of service on the board – through some of the toughest times we’ve seen. So on behalf of the council we wish them all in the best in their future and less tumultuous volunteer activities.
– We thank Sergio for his service. He was brought onto the board in response to parents asking that there be more representation from members who actually had students in the school. Sergio was assigned the enviable position of PTAC liaison and it was a true partnership. We developed a very productive working relationship — he help us to understand goings-on at the district level and we felt comfortable sharing the concerns of the parents we represent. Sergio’s priority was the students. When Dr. Ponds was introduced to the contentious mix that is our school district, in the midst of a pandemic, Sergio was there for him – they got along really well. We talk about the importance of relationships so I don’t know what they thinking is here. I have been in front of the board more often than I can count talking about the detrimental impact of upheaval in our administration. We are very sad to see Sergio go but expect the incoming board members to continue to support the superintendent and the work he has begun for the sake of our students.