County's PTA Council President Addresses Rockburn Parents

The president of the PTA Council of Howard County, Chaunfayta Hightower, wrote the following letter to the editor in response to an  that would not celebrate Halloween, which was  from some parents.
 

After reading from the parents at , I have to tell you that this is a school issue and not a PTA issue.

If parents feel strongly about this, their efforts need to be directed to the principal at and not the PTA president.

The PTA president did not decide to cancel the Halloween parade. Instead, she quickly rallied to identify a solution* which would still allow the students and parents to experience and enjoy Halloween.

PTA presidents along with board and committee chairs spend countless hours planning events and activities which will benefit all of the children at a particular school. I understand the parents' concern about something their children enjoy [being] removed. But any anger and frustration over this issue should not be directed at a PTA president who is serving a third year because there were no parents interested in this role. She needs your support, your ideas, your input and your time.

I would urge parents to work with the PTA to make this alternate event the best that they can for their children. I think that while many have enjoyed the tradition of Rockburn's Halloween parade, it is now time to embrace a new tradition and the event which has been planned may be something that both the parents and students will find is a fantastic new tradition.

by [Howard County Public School System spokeswoman] Patti Caplan that many schools hold fall festivals in lieu of a Halloween parade and this is an event which parents and students look forward to and LOVE!

One final thought: Howard County is proud of its focus on civility, and many of us see the "Choose Civility" bumper stickers all over the county. Now is the time for civility. The discussion has moved from anger over a beloved tradition to personal attacks on a PTA president who while serving as a president is a member of your school community. She is a parent and a friend and a neighbor and I am hoping that the parents at Rockburn will step back and examine the tone of the dialogue.

I ask the parents to choose civility and work with the PTA on the solution which has been provided as an option. Don't let the lack of a Halloween parade divide your community.

Best,

Chaunfayta Hightower
President, PTA Council of Howard County

* The Rockburn PTA established a Fall Harvest dance that will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 28 when kids can wear costumes (it's optional) and dance in the Rockburn gym.