PART III: STANDING COMMITTEES

Each standing committee shall have a chairman who shall be a member of the council board of directors appointed in accordance with the bylaws.

Committees are listed alphabetically. 

COMMITTEES

• Bylaws and Procedures

• Cultural Arts

• Curriculum, Elementary and Secondary

• Family-School Partnerships

• Gifted and Talented

• Health and Safety

• Legislation/Issues

• Minority Education

• School Budget - Capital

• School Budget - Operating

• Special Education

1. DUTIES OF COMMITTEES

1. Develop plan of work using the designated form.

2. Present plan of work to the board of directors by the September board meeting for approval.  No committee work shall be undertaken until the board of directors approves the committee's plan of work.

3. Cooperate with other groups to achieve common goals of PTA.

4. Provide articles on a regular basis for PTA Council BULLETIN.

5. Provide resources and information at the PTA Council Fall Workshop.

6. Present a written report at each board of directors meeting.  Report should include committee work done since the last report.  Only council committee work should be included in the report.

7. Maintain a procedure book.

8. Submit a written annual report to the vice president for chairmen at the June board of directors meeting.

9. Supply all reports, including the annual report and the plan of work in writing, providing four copies, a copy for the vice president for chairmen, two for the secretary, and a copy for the committee's procedure book.
    

2. PLAN OF WORK

1. The plan of work shall contain the following elements:

a.       Committee name;

b.      Chairman's name;

c.       Committee members;

d.      General statement of goals;

e.       List of specific objectives to accomplish goals;

f.       Planned activities for fall workshop, general council meetings, and leadership training;

g.      Proposed expenditures; and

h.      Approval date.

2. A committee may amend or modify its plan of work only with the concurrence of the board of directors.
    

3. PROCEDURE BOOKS

1.  Procedure books shall be turned in to the vice president for chairmen at the termination of a chairman's appointment. 

4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES

1. Bylaws and Procedures:

a.       Review the council bylaws at least every three years and recommend revisions when necessary;

b.      Submit proposed revisions to the board of directors for review;

c.       Submit revisions to the general council membership for approval;

d.      Submit to Maryland PTA for approval the revisions, which have been approved by the general council membership;

e.       Maintain inventory of approval dates of all local PTA bylaws and notify area vice presidents and local presidents whenever mandatory three (3) year review is required;

f.       Assist local PTAs in revising their bylaws; and

g.      Review annually the Standing Rules and the General Council Meeting Procedures and Policies.  Recommendations and/or revisions will be made to the council board of directors for approval and upon approval the General Council Meeting Procedures and Policies shall be forwarded to the general membership for approval.

2. Cultural Arts:

a.       Promote the National PTA REFLECTIONS Program and conduct the council's REFLECTIONS contest and Awards Reception, selecting the location in consultation with the president and first vice president;

b.      Work with the Baltimore County Public Schools to stimulate interest in arts programs;

c.       Share information with local PTA; and

d.      Promote the arts in a broad perspective.

3. Curriculum, Elementary and Secondary:

a.       Serve as coordinator between the council and Baltimore County Public Schools on all matters affecting curriculum of elementary and secondary schools (except in areas where a separate committee has been established);

b.      Be the contact person with board of education personnel responsible for curriculum and instructional materials;

c.       Share information with local PTAs; and

d.      Represent the council on any committee, panel or task force convened by the Baltimore County Public Schools to study or review curriculum and issues related to elementary and secondary schools.

4. Family-School Partnerships:

a.       Become knowledgeable about the different types of family-school involvement;

b.      Promote parenting programs established by the National PTA, Maryland PTA, PTA council, Baltimore County Board of Education, and Maryland Board of Education;

c.       Address family issues that are primary to youngsters and parents;

d.      Share parent involvement and parenting information and ideas with local PTAs; and

e.       Work to promote the Family/Community Involvement Policies, including meaningful parent involvement on school based management teams.

5        Gifted and Talented:

a.       Inform PTAs of the issues pertaining to gifted and talented in the county school system, state, and nation;

b.      Encourage local PTAs to include parents of gifted and talented students in all PTA activities through PTA Council BULLETIN articles and workshops where appropriate;

c.       Encourage local PTAs to include a gifted and talented liaison on their board of directors;

d.      Help to provide parent education pertaining to child and parents rights;

e.       Act as a liaison to gifted and talented committees and groups throughout the county; and

f.       Share information with local PTAs. 

6        Health and Safety:

a.       Support and promote Health Programs and Safety Programs for all children established by county, state, and National PTA;

b.      Educate parents, teachers, and students on the health needs of children and the community, addressing such concerns as nutrition, substance abuse, environmental issues, AIDS, conflict resolution processes, and other issues as appropriate;

c.       Inform local PTAs of ongoing programs, needs, and services;

d.      Work with other groups addressing key issues concerning health issues;

e.       Promote programs of substance abuse prevention developed by county, state, and National PTA;

f.       Educate parents, teachers, and students on the safety needs of all children and the community, addressing such concerns as automobile safety, school bus safety, traffic hazards; home hazards, and general school building hazards;

g.      Work with other groups addressing key issues concerning safety issues; and

h.      Share information and ideas with local PTAs.

7        Legislation/Issues:

a.       Study legislation on county, state, and national levels that pertain to children and youth and/or educational matters;

b.      Present state and national legislative programs to council and local PTAs;

c.       Draft testimony for presentation, forwarding the council position as appropriate; and

d.      Continue to inform the council and local PTAs of status of legislation  and advocacy activities through monthly reports, the PTA Council BULLETIN and legislative alerts.

8        Minority Education:

a.       Coordinate educational issues with the Office of Equity and Assurance;

b.      Bring educational issues effecting minorities to council;

c.       Inform local PTAs of the issues pertaining to minority education in the county school system;

d.      Encourage local PTAs to include minority education activities in their PTA program through PTA Council BULLETIN articles and workshops where appropriate;

e.       Act as a liaison to minority education committees and groups throughout the county; and

f.       Share information with local PTAs.

9.     School Budget - Capital:

a.       Provide accurate and current information concerning the capital portion of the education budget;

b.      Encourage local PTAs to participate in the budget process by presenting testimony at budget hearings and by contacting fiscal authorities; and

c.       Gather information on the capital budget process prior to plan of work being approved.  Committee members shall no represent the board in any way, other than collecting information, until their plan of work is approved. 

10.  School Budget - Operating:

a.    Provide accurate and current information concerning the operating portion of the education budget; and

b.    Encourage local PTAs to participate in the budget process by presenting testimony at budget hearings and by contacting fiscal authorities.

11. Special Education:

a.       Inform local PTAs of the issues pertaining to special education in the county school system, state, and nation;

b.      Encourage local PTAs to include parents of special education students in all PTA activities through PTA Council BULLETIN articles and workshops where appropriate;

c.       Encourage local PTAs to include a special education liaison on their board of directors;

d.      Help to provide parent education pertaining to child and parents rights;

e.       Act as a liaison to special education committees and groups throughout the county; and

f.       Share information with local PTAs.