CHALK TALK: Sending out the Bat Signal

Calling all parents — we need your help! When I started teaching at Colony High School in 2010, I became part of a 10-teacher English department. Within a week, one teacher had to transfer to another school due to student enrollment numbers. Then there were nine. The following year, an English teacher went on maternity leave, and she did not return, nor was her position filled. Then there were eight. Over the years, our enrollment has not changed significantly; however, this year there are six full-time English teachers.

No, I am not part of some Agatha Christie mystery plot. There is no mystery. Each time an English teacher leaves to pursue other interests, he or she is not replaced due to budget constraints and the need to do more with less. In the meantime, the number of students I work with has gone from 110 in 2010 to 163 this year, and I am one of the lucky ones because I teach Advanced Placement classes which are typically smaller. Many of my colleagues have 180 or more students walking into their classrooms each day. Thank goodness I work with well-behaved, respectful, awesome young people! But we are stretched thin across the board, and at a recent staff meeting, the suggestion was made that having a PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) might help.

Here at Colony High School, our front office staff would benefit from someone who could answer phones, freeing up the clerical staff to tackle the paperwork and myriad other duties. Our counseling office is currently short two qualified counselors and their secretary splits her time between that office and the front office. I am sure they could use assistance with paperwork and other clerical tasks. Our school website needs updating on a regular basis. Our English department group picture still includes a colleague who moved out of state three years ago. We would appreciate greatly a tech savvy parent with the time to spend updating information and pictures. In the library, Mrs. McKenney is grateful for the assistance of one parent volunteer and could use additional assistance on a consistent basis. Just keeping track of the laptops and Chromebooks is practically a part-time job, especially during state-mandated testing times.

The message we are receiving from administration is that the situation for our public schools could be even worse next year, with more budget cuts threatened as our state continues to contend with a fiscal crisis.

I am sending out the bat signal. Now is the time for PTO groups to form and assist our high schools. From the first volunteer firehouse founded by Benjamin Franklin, to the Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions Clubs that thrive today, the philanthropic spirit has been part of the essence of our nation, in good times, and especially in bad. Colony High School has always enjoyed a higher than average level of parent involvement, but the addition of a PTO could provide long-term, consistent support. We sure could use it. Thank you!

Nancy.Podgorski@matsuk12.us