Misinformation regarding Council of PTAs

Dear Editor:

I have served as President of the Aldine ISD Council of PTA’s for the past two years. I am very pleased to have been associated with this fine organization.

In reading your latest edition dated April 27, 2004, I came across an article in which I found incorrect information regarding the Aldine ISD Council of PTA’s. The article was entitled Aldine School Board early voting begins April 28. In the article, under the information for Position 3 Sidney Brewer, he stated that he had been named the 2004 Aldine Council of PTA’s Community Partner of the Year. I know for a fact that this is an untrue statement. The only awards we presented were two PTA Life Membership awards at our annual PTA Founders Day banquet. Mr. Brewer may have been awarded a Community Partner Award from an individual campus but not the Aldine Council of PTA’s.

We are pleased to have school board members as well as school board candidates involved in PTA’s at the local unit level.

As far as political endorsements are concerned-The National PTA Bylaws state in Article lllc that “The organization shall not-directly or indirectly-participate or intervene (in any Via way, including the publishing or distribution of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for political office;…”

PTA may sponsor a community forum for political candidates running for office. All candidates should be invited to participate and each allowed equal time for promoting their platform. PTA, however, cannot endorse a candidate for a specific office. The forum is provided as a community service.

I thank you for reviewing this request and look forward to seeing a correction printed in a future issue of the Northeast News.

John Cornett
President – Aldine ISD Council of PTA’s