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Sixth District Legislative Round Table
Thursday November 16
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm- Meet & Greet
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm - Legislative Round Table
FUHSD Professional Learning Ctr (rear building)
Fremont Union High School District Office,
589 W Fremont Ave, Sunnyvale [map] [campus map]
To inform our discussion, please [click here] for more on this year's topics. Come discuss these topics with our legislators and parents!
This year's Legislative Round Table will explore three topics:
Adequate funding
:
- Even with the Prop 55 extension of Prop. 30 taxes, our funding is below average, and California's schools rank in the bottom 5. LCFF improves equity, but does not address adequacy. How can we restore long-term increased stable funding for our children's schools?
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We invest more in convicted criminals than in our kids. Average per-student funding in 2015-2016 was $9,942. We spend $62,000 per year per inmate. Studies show that high school dropouts are three and one-half times more likely than high school graduates to be arrested and more than eight times as likely to be in jail or prison.
Raising Teacher Status
:
- In countries with high-performing schools, teachers are better trained, better paid, better supported, and better respected than in the US. How can we change the way we view the teaching profession, so that we can better recruit and retain and properly compensate our children's teachers?
Early Childhood Education
:
- Santa Clara County's Superintendent of Schools says the County Office's work on early learning is its highest priority project. How can we improve access to high quality, affordable, early learning for all of California's children?
- Only 13% of California's low-income children are in the kind of high-quality preschools that can improve outcomes.
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Reflections Entries Due
Reflections winners are due to the Sixth District PTA office by
NOON on Friday, December 1
. Our office is located in the Library of the Santa Clara Office of Education, 1290 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose.
Reflections Reception will be held on Monday, January 9 at Santa Clara Office of Education.
- 6:00 - 7:00 - Gallery/Open House
- 7:00 - 8:00 - Awards Ceremony
Questions? Please email Susan Canty
, Reflections Chair.
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Is it an Onion, an Opportunity Drawing
or a Raffle?
Onions and onion rings, opportunity drawings and raffles...oh so close but not the same.
If we sell tickets and we call it an opportunity drawing...
- Nice try. No. The California Attorney General says that if participants are required to purchase a ticket in order to have a chance to win a prize then it is a raffle.
Can we hold a 50/50 raffle?
- Nope. From the Attorney General, "90 percent of the gross receipts generated by the sale of raffle tickets for any given draw are to be used by the eligible organization for charitable purposes. For example: An organization raised $100 in ticket sales. It would be required to spend $90 of that amount to further its charitable purposes, and only $10 could be used to help pay for expenses or operating costs associated with conducting the raffle."
- So ... 50/50 raffles are illegal because 90 percent of the gross ticket-sale revenue is not used for charitable purposes.
- But... the organization is not precluded from using funds from sources other than the sale of raffle tickets to pay for the administration or other costs of conducting the raffle.
I want to do right, what should I do?
- Register for a Raffle Permit with the California Attorney General's office at least 60 days before your raffle. Cost is $20 for the year.
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Do 1 Thing - Monthly Reminder
Small steps toward being prepared for an emergency
Do 1 Thing
is a 12-month program that makes it easy for you to prepare yourself, your family, and your community for emergencies or disasters.
November: Emergency Supplies
Remember important items that may be overlooked when leaving your home in an emergency.
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To Reason or Not to Reason
"You might be looking for reasons but there are no reasons."
- Nina LaCour, Hold Still
Which means you don't even need to think about it, your PTA just has to file the
990n/990EZ/990, 199n/199, and RRF-1 every year
...
- if your PTA is filing a 990n, 199n and RRF-1, you MUST file by Nov 15, since the IRS does not allow for extensions.
- if your PTA is filing 990EZ/990, 199 and RRF-1, and you will NOT finish the 990EZ/990 on time, then you must file for an extension before November 15 (aim to file extension before Nov 10). Please file Form 8868 which will give you an automatic 3-month extension for all three returns (990EZ/990, 199, and RRF-1).
Information for filing your taxes:
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The Most Important Committee
It might seem early, but it's a great time to start thinking about who would be wonderful to serve on your unit's nominating committee.
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True or False
1. The president appoints the nominating committee.
2. The principal automatically is a member of the nominating committee.
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Units need to elect their nominating committees at least 60 days before their annual election meeting. For most units, the election of the nominating committee will take place at your January or February association meeting (please check your bylaws).
Please visit CAPTA's website for more information on
Nominations and Elections.
OR come to Nominations and Elections training on Tuesday, Nov 7 (more information below).
Answers:
- False - The nominating committee is the only PTA committee that is not appointed by the president.
- False - The principal may be elected as a member of the nominating committee. If not elected, the principal should at least be an advisor to the group.
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When You Turn 18:
A Survival Guide for Teenagers
Adulthood also brings new responsibilities and consequences.
- Your parents no longer have to support you.
- You can now be sued personally.
- You are responsible for paying your own income taxes.
- You must register for the military if you are a young man.
- You can register to vote.
- And if you commit a crime, you will not have the protection of the juvenile court and laws; you could wind up in jail for something that, at a younger age, might have resulted in no more than a stern lecture and a ride home in a police car.
This guide touches on some of the laws that may apply to you at this turning point. Keep in mind that laws are constantly subject to change. If you have a specific legal problem, you may want to consult an attorney.
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Due Date Reminder - October 15 - Now Past Due
Thank you to the many PTAs/PTSAs that have already submitted the following:
- 2016-17 Annual Financial Report (July 1 2016 - June 30 2017) - Sample
- 2017-18 Budget (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018) - Sample
- Insurance Premium ($228 for units)
- Out-of-Council Administration Fee ($50 - Out-of-Council units only)
- Tax Returns: 990n/990EZ/990; 199n/199; and RRF-1. Please send a signed copy of the 990EZ/990, 199, and RRF-1.
And for those of you who have not yet turned them in:
- Units in councils - please send to your council by their deadline.
Sixth District PTA
1290 Ridder Park Drive, M/C 214
San Jose, CA 95131
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PTA Calendar of Essential Requirements
November 2017 -
- Taxes - due officially to IRS, FTB, and AG no later than Nov 15
- Nominating Committee - start asking for volunteers [Info] [Toolkit]
- Founder's Day - Start planning now for February
- Insurance Premium - $228 for units
- Please thank your October Volunteers
- Give thanks with your family and friends
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Previous Issues
Nov 1 - Who Appoints the Nominating Committee
- To Reason or Not to Reason - Taxes
- The Most Important Committee - Nominating
- When You Turn 18: A Survival Guide for Teenagers
- Sixth District Legislative Round Table
Oct 25 - Its the Treasurer's Fault - Wrong Answer
- Finance for All Officers - Why?
- Tax Help Day
- Ever Have Problems Accessing Your e-Bylaws Account Online?
- Saturday Community Symposium:
Creating Partnerships to Lead Beyond Limits
Oct 18 - How to Help the Communities Effected by Fire (and Hurricanes)
- Questions to Ask During the Parent Teacher Conference
- E-Membership Cards are Available
- Training Opportunities: Finance for All, Parliamentarian, Auditor
- School Funding: Is Bad Good Enough
- Tax Help Day - Oct 30 and Nov 7
- Due Date Reminder - October 15
- Legislative Round Table - Save the Date
- October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
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Feel free to forward this e-newsletter to any and all PTA officers, members and other interested persons, and encourage them to
join our mailing list.
As always, you are encouraged to send us your suggestions for articles and additional information you would find useful. Thanks!
Questions? Comments? Contact
News You Can Use and News Flash e-newsletters
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