Lexington PTAs and PTOs Share a Common Purpose

The PTAs and PTOs in Lexington share a common purpose: to enhance the education and welfare of the students and families in our community. These groups represent families with children in preschool, elementary, middle and high school including children with special needs. Through strong communication channels, advocacy, and sharing best practices, each PTA/O contributes invaluable services and resources to our schools and thereby the greater community. The Lexington PTA/Os are proud of the work they do to support the Lexington Public Schools and the Town of Lexington. Members of the PTA/Os regularly attend School Committee and Board of Selectmen meetings, serve on town committees, and are members of Town Meeting. They educate themselves in order to be the best representatives of their community. In the case of the December 4th town election where voters were asked to authorize the Town to fund approximately $86 million in capital improvements using excluded debt, all of the PTA/O boards voted to endorse and support passing all three questions.

The PTA/O boards each agreed that these three projects met the needs of the community and that paying for the projects as proposed was appropriate. Here’s why: a new Hastings will provide a safe, educationally sound place for the students learning in that building for years to come. It is also a step in the right direction towards alleviating Lexington’s growing enrollment crisis. The fire station undoubtedly plays a role in the safety and well being of our students, not just in the case of fire, but also as first responders when students are in crisis (physical or mental). And lastly, a new Lexington Children’s Place will provide the facility and capacity our town needs to serve its youngest students in the manner required by the state.

Each PTA/O supported the Yes! campaign by educating voters, getting out the vote, hosting information sessions, sending emails, making a financial contribution (consisting of less than 5% of their budgets), and more. As 501(c)(3) organizations, PTA/Os are allowed to endorse and support ballot measures. For more information on this topic, go to: https://www.pta.org/home/advocacy/advocacy-resources/Election-Guides. In addition, as organizations, each PTA/O is bound by their own charters and bylaws, and all voted on whether to endorse the Yes! campaign in accordance with those organizational documents.

Membership in the PTA/Os is open to anyone whose child attends one of the Lexington Public Schools and we encourage all parents to join. PTA/Os are run by parents from your school community and we encourage anyone who is interested in the decision-making process of these groups to get involved by attending meetings and joining the board.

Gretchen Reisig
Chair, PTA/O Presidents’ Council

On behalf of the presidents of the following organizations: LexFUN!, SEPTA, Bowman PTA, Bridge PTA, Estabrook PTO, Fiske PTO, Harrington PTA, Hastings PTO, Clarke PTO, Diamond PTA and the LHS PTO