Attached please find a letter from VA PTA on the next steps for TJPTSA. Together we made our voices heard. Please keep engaged and be vigilant, to protect the integrity of our school.
Dear TJ High School PTSA Members,
As valued members of Virginia PTA, I wanted to update you on the progress being made in regards to the intent of revocation of the Charter for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology PTSA (TJHSST PTSA).
TJHSST PTSA has been placed in a Probation Phase.
Members of TJHSST PTSA who contacted us expressed ongoing distrust in TJHSST PTSA leadership and demanded action of Virginia PTA and provided two (2) petitions, in addition to email communications; Save the TJPTSA and Urge the entire TJPTSA Executive Board to resign.
While Virginia PTA believes it has cause to revoke the charter of TJHSST PTSA, we would prefer to work with TJHSST PTSA leadership to repair the damage done. We have decided to move TJHSST PTSA into the Probation Phase of Non-Compliance.
Virginia PTA has assigned a support team to offer solutions, guidance, and oversee TJHSST PTSA’s activities and progress towards compliance. The support team is composed of Pam Croom, Jenna Alexander, Hamid Munir, Debbie Kilpatrick, Larry Mills, Jason Morgan, all who can be reached at soasupport@vapta.org.
Virginia PTA requires the TJHSST PTSA executive committee to develop and submit a written Action Plan in consultation with the assigned support team and to submit that plan to the support team at soasupport@vapta.org by August 20, 2021.
Open regular, two-way, and meaningful communications with TJHSST PTSA general membership and establishing a cooperative working environment in which TJHSST PTSA general memberships’ concerns are addressed by August 1, 2021.
TJHSST PTSA executive board members will sign a conflict of interest form and provide the signed document to the support team by July 31, 2021.
Ensuring a process is in place to provide proper notice of all special meetings, as per TJHSST PTSA Bylaws, Code of Virginia, and Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised by August 20, 2021.
Creating a procedure that ensures special meetings are conducted in compliance with parliamentary authority, so that special meetings deal with only "matters that may arise between regular meetings and that require action by the society before the next regular meeting, or to dedicate the entire session to one or more particular matters" and "only business...which has been specified in the call of the meeting" as per Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised by July 31, 2021.
Creating a process that ensures board members have an opportunity to review all meeting materials well in advance of the meetings.
TJHSST PTSA should obtain the services of a certified parliamentarian to assist with meeting notification requirements and to attend all properly called executive committee, executive board and/or general membership meetings.
Because of the perceived damage to the value and goodwill of the PTA brand, Virginia PTA makes these additional demands of TJHSST PTSA during its Probation Phase:
TJHSST PTSA will not fill a position or remove any board members without Virginia PTA approval during this Probation Phase. Any elected or appointed board members who have been removed or resigned within the last 14 days must be reinstated by July 31, 2021.
The support team must receive all meeting notices and agendas at least one week in advance of the meeting, as well as minutes and other meeting documents that will be distributed at properly called meetings of the executive board, the executive committee, and/or general membership meetings.
At least two members of the support team must be present at all regular and special executive committee, executive board and general membership meetings and must be given voice at each of these meetings. Virginia PTA strongly recommends that TJHSST PTA’s executive committee and executive board members heed the support team’s guidance to avoid revocation.
TJHSST PTSA will remain in the Probation Phase of Non-Compliance until the sooner of the following: January 30, 2022, or until compliance with the Standards of Affiliation is achieved or until Virginia PTA informs TJHSST PTSA that the Probation Phase has ended.
Virginia PTA’s goal in this determination is to assist TJHSST PTSA executive committee and members with addressing the ongoing issues and restore member trust.
We look forward to providing continued forward progress news.
Sincerely,
Pamela Croom
State President, Virginia PTA