Question: When having a PTA at our schools, is it recommended that only parents are part of PTA or is it ok for the teachers to be part of the PTA?
Response: Booster clubs, including PTA, are separate from the district and are not under the control of, nor are they the responsibility of the district. However, governing boards are able to approve the guidelines for these groups to follow as a condition of their approval. It is suggested that K-12 school district personnel not hold any official position in a booster club organization. A board would have the ability to establish the condition, if they chose to do so, that a booster club would not permit an employee of the district to hold an official position.
School employees are not employees of the booster club, and the booster club should be aware of the following:
o While serving as district employees, they have no authority to work for the booster club during their district work schedule. A district employee acting in his or her official capacity and during work hours may interact with booster club officials when this is a required part of his or her duties as a district employee.
o If a district employee would like to be employed by the booster club, the employee must obtain prior approval from the district's personnel department.
o Some districts that have permitted a district employee to also be employed by a booster club may require that the employee be paid through the district, with the district being reimbursed in turn by the booster club. The district may also require that any employee chosen to work for a booster club be hired and cleared for work through the district's personnel office.
o A district employee who acts in their personal capacity and on their own personal time is free to establish a booster club or to participate in it. The employee must ensure that participation in the booster club does not present a conflict of interest with their duties as a school employee. The employee should also make it clear that their participation is in their personal capacity and not in their capacity as a district employee.
2/22/10
