PTO News Updates!
PTO to remain stubbornly pro-education
Hello once again from your friendly neighborhood Parent Teacher Organization! We have a couple of quick but important things for you to think about as we head into the fourth-to-last weekend of the school year. My, oh my, how time flies when you’re having fun and also trying to convince the guy handing out tickets for free Italian ices that you haven’t already had one, even though your tongue and lips are stained suspiciously blue.
Teacher Appreciation Week starts on Monday.
Next week, May 5th through May 9th, is Teacher Appreciation Week at Johnson Elementary. Below is a handy flyer to guide you in how you can help show our wonderful Johnson teachers how much we appreciate them.
PTO Meeting Tuesday, May 6th at 6:00 p.m.
Please be sure to make time to join us at our last PTO meeting of the school year this Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in the Johnson cafeteria. We’ll have dinner and a place for the kiddos to be safely watched over while the grown-ups discuss many important things, including but not limited to figuring out just who the heck is going to be making this whole PTO thing go next year. It’s time to vote in the 2025-2026 board! Come and be a part of the Tall Oaks future.
Dear Mr. Congressman…
As you may have heard, Donald Trump, the actual president of the actual United States, recently issued an executive order demanding that the Department of Education be closed. This can only be accomplished by an act of Congress. The Charlottesville Citywide PTO Board thinks that closing the Department of Education is probably a bad idea.
The good news is that in our representative republic form of government, we have a congressperson up in Washington who is supposed to listen to us—his constituents—whenever we think the government is doing something silly or bad or dangerous. The bad news is that our congressperson is Representative John McGuire, who recently posted the following on social media:
So perhaps Congressman McGuire’s mind is already made up. How nice for him! But that must not stop the concerned parents among his constituency from voicing their disagreement. To that end, below is a letter that the Citywide PTO would like you to co-sign, if you agree with its message. The message, in short, is: probably it is a bad idea to close the United States Department of Education.
Letter from Citywide PTO Board
Hello Charlottesville families and community members!
The collective Citywide PTO Board members have decided to take a stand against the defunding and termination of the Department of Education. As parents of children in public schools, we hope that you might share our views and help us. We are planning on sending this letter to Congressman John McGuire. If you are interested in signing the letter, please fill out this form. The more constituent signatures we can gather, the better! If you do not feel comfortable signing the letter with your information, you can follow this link to send a template email to your elected officials! Please feel free to share with neighbors and non-parents as well.
Warmly,
City of Charlottesville Parent Teacher Organization Board members
Dear Congressman McGuire,
As concerned parents and PTO Board members representing families throughout Charlottesville, Virginia, we write today to express our strong and unwavering support for the Department of Education and its critical role in sustaining public K–12 education. We urge you to vote no on the H.R. 899 bill and protect public education.
Public education is the cornerstone of a thriving community. Our schools are where children grow academically, socially, and emotionally and where the foundations of our future are built. The Department of Education provides essential support to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.
We are deeply alarmed by the possibility that Charlottesville City Schools could lose $6,222,455 in federal education funding, including vital programs such as Title I and IDEA. These programs support our most vulnerable students, those from low-income families and students with disabilities. Losing this funding translates to up to 34 educators jobs, or 692,328 fewer lunches for students that rely on them.
Now more than ever, we need to invest in our public schools, not strip them of the resources that allow students and educators to thrive. These federal funds are not just numbers in a budget; they translate directly into reading support, special education services, school counselors, after-school programming, and safe, inclusive learning environments.
As a father of five, you know firsthand how important education is in a child’s life. Public schools provide support that some families need and depend on. We urge you to stand with Charlottesville’s students, educators, and families by protecting and increasing funding for the Department of Education. The success of our children, and the strength of our community depend on it.
Sincerely,
Concerned Parents and PTO Board Members
Charlottesville, Virginia
A Brief Editorial Aside
Your humble PTO News Correspondent would like to add that even when one’s opinion is likely to fall upon deaf ears, or at best will be heard and roundly ignored, it’s still always worthwhile to tell those who represent us what we think of what they’re up to. Congressman McGuire will most certainly vote to close the Department of Education, given the opportunity, in no small part because he likely believes a lot of what he said about it above, and in no small part because he is politically incentivized to keep the big boss happy with him.
But with enough pushback, in the form of calls to his offices in Washington—(202) 225-4711—or Lynchburg—(434) 791-2596—or in the form of signing the letter the Citywide PTO put together above, he will at least know that a significant number of people upon whom he relies for votes have a different idea about how things ought to be. Every signature or phone call is another reminder that he will be held accountable for his actions. We are the people he represents in Washington, and our schools rely on millions of dollars of federal funding from the Department of Education to help educate and care for our children. He should hear from us.
Ta-ta for now!
Hope to see you all on Tuesday night! Have a great weekend.