School needs support

As most people reading this will know, the levy to supply added funding to Plains Public Schools did not pass. This very directly affects the ability of the school district to continue to provide quality enrichment educational opportunities to our children.

In light of this, the Plains Parent and Teachers Association (PTA) wants to invite the greater community to assist with meeting some of the needs of our students attending our public schools. Budget shortfalls are impacting the ability to hire educational support staff, meet cost of living salary increases for current faculty and staff, classroom supply budgets and extra-curricular activities. Things like class field trips and experiments, band instrument shortages, supplies for drama productions, games and matches that are out of conference, and more will

feel the shortage. While extracurriculars are by definition “extra,” they provide some of the most valuable educational opportunities outside the classroom that are not achievable any other way.

With this in mind, the PTA is asking for your help. First, PLEASE vote yes for future school levies. Second, please donate to and volunteer for PTA and other organizations committed to filling the gaps left by budget shortfalls; or consider donating and volunteering directly to the school district. The school district is chronically short of substitute teachers and volunteers and current staff can always use a helping hand with special projects in the classroom and beyond.

The PTA’s areas of focus include helping to off-set the costs of educational enhancements for our students like: motivational and educational speakers, band instruments, hosting the Christmas Bazaar to aide student groups to earn money for the extras, workshops and life-skills events, STEM projects and more.

The biggest reason people gave for not supporting the School District Levy was the recent hike in property taxes. The State of Montana has issued $500 rebates on property taxes for the last two years to property owners who apply for them. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if individuals both remembered to file for the rebate and donated a portion to support the School District?

In short, the PTA knows how much our community cares about our kids and we are respectfully asking community members, businesses, and other organizations to step in so education for our children does not fall short. Any donations made to our 501(c)(3) Plains PTA is fully tax deductible (P.O. Box 71 Plains, MT 59859) and we will make sure it goes to enhancing the lives of OUR students and our future.

Sincerely,

Erika Lawyer, Rashell Jones, Sharon Niemi, Karrie Lulack, Samantha Bebb, Trista Feist Brown, Brian Meaden and members of the Plains PTA