Schools
Hyattsville Middle School PTA Outlines Issues for Year
The PTA discussed a contract with parents about after school activities.
"This is your PTA," the organization's president, Errick King, told parents at Hyattsville Middle School Wednesday night. "Whatever suggestions you have could make a better PTA."
The organization is scheduled to meet the second Tuesday of every month – Prince Georges County elementary schools meet the first Tuesday of every month and the high school organizations meet the third Tuesday of the month.
Susie Long, the new principal at the school for creative and performing arts (CPA), stood up about halfway through the meeting. She addressed parent concerns about issues including dress code, student access to lockers and the number of extracurricular activities –including sports and performing arts rehearsals – that students are allowed to participate in.
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"After 12 years of [the previous] administration, a change is a major adjustment," Long said. "We're working as hard as we can to keep order, knowing that we have strong parental support."
The school also needs a strong proactive behavioral plan to maintain a safe, orderly environment, she said.
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Tracey Cutler, the school's current CPA coordinator, took on parents' concerns about new limits on student sports and other activities. He said the changes had been made previously and sent home to parents as a contract to review and sign.
The CPA coordinator's responsibilities include student placement, school performances, and integrating and aligning instruction to support the teaching of reading and mathematics skills.
A 2009-2010 report said that the school was then in its seventh year as a theme school for CPA. All students had to audition, usually in March of the previous year, in either creative writing, theater lab, dance, media arts, visual arts, band, chorus or orchestra and be accepted in order to participate. Auditions for the program are generally held in March of the preceding school year.
"My goal is to look at academics, performance and achievement," Long said adding that she "[Hears] the passion" about allowing students to participate in multiple activities.
"Basically all eyes are on this school," she said. "I'm going to ask that you honor that contract."