Link from: NYC Public School Parents: Bloomberg Plan to Expel 'Negative' PTA Leaders...
By ANGELA MONTEFINISE
April 22, 2007 -- Principals may soon have the power to expel parents from PTAs.
The city Department of Education is mulling a stunning policy change that would allow principals to ban parents from the volunteer panels for patterns of "negative behavior."
The controversial proposal to alter existing chancellor's regulations comes as the DOE is trying to increase parent involvement - adding paid parent coordinators at each school and hiring a $150,000 parent czar.
"It's just too much gray area," said Suzanne Windland, treasurer of the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council. The organization is made up of elected parent leaders from across the city and is in discussions with the DOE over the change.
"The way it's written now, the principal can basically get rid of the entire PTA if he doesn't like them," she said. "What's negative behavior? A voice a principal doesn't want to hear? A parent who rants and raves about something he or she finds unsatisfactory? That needs to be extremely clear."
Under current regulations, principals do not have any direct power over PTA and Parents' Association appointments. Officers are voted in by parents.
The proposed change - a response to complaints about disruptive PTA members and leaders - was originally given to CPAC for review late last year. CPAC responded in February, asking for clarification of the words "negative behavior."
The group is still waiting for a response.
