Mission Statement for the Marlow PTA

The mission of our PTA organization is to:

• Finance and support enrichment activities and/or instruction which the budget does not ordinarily afford;
• Support and speak on behalf of children in the schools, the community and before town bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting schools;
• Provide a link between parent and teacher communities;
• Organize activities which provide an opportunity for students to interact with each other and the community in order to foster stronger ties and feelings of citizenship.

Our organization raises funds in order to:

• Finance curriculum enrichment programs and activities;
• Supplement funds for class field trips;
• Fuel parties, activities and other operating costs;
• Pay for equipment, landscaping materials and other materials which improve the school environment for our students, but are not (and should not be) part of the school budget;
• Save money in a capital fund for special projects.

PTA funds will be dispersed annually in the following manner: 

Each year we will provide 50% of our budget for enrichment activities and/or instruction.

Examples of enrichment activities and/or instruction:

• Music, drama or dance performances;
• Outside instructional specialists;
• Materials budget for instruction & special projects (not intended to subsidize standard budget materials such as textbooks, PE equipment, instruments, etc.).

In the past, we have been pleased to sponsor:

• An in school Montshire Museum exhibit;
• The Grafton Museum’s instruction on animal tracking;
• The Harris Center’s instruction on beavers & their habitat;
• A dance performance by The Moving Company;
• A musical performance by bassist R. “Dobbs” Hartshorne;
• A performance of Acting Out;
• A copper works project through our art instructor.

The funds available shall be divided equally to all applicants.  In the event that some instructors do not take advantage of the funds, those monies will then become available to teachers who wish to provide additional programs.  If any money remains at the end of the school year, it will carry over in this fund for the following year.

Each year we will provide 10% of our funds to supplement money raised for field trips.  This will be distributed on a per pupil basis.  For example, if all classrooms go on field trips, and there are 60 students, each classroom will receive its portion based on class size.  In the event that any class does not take advantage of this field trip money, its portion will be distributed evenly to the participating classrooms.  This money is not intended to carry over to the next year’s budget.

Each year we will reserve 15% of our budget for our operating costs.  This money funds events and activities sponsored by the PTA.  Typical examples of these expenditures are: the annual Thanksgiving Dinner, the Christmas Craft Workshop and money to pay for childcare during our PTA meetings.  No more than $200 should remain in this fund at the end of the school year.  In the event that this fund has more than $200 in it, the excess funds will be transferred into our Capital Reserve Fund.

Each year we will provide 25% of our budget for equipment, landscaping materials and other materials which improve the school environment for our students, but are not (and should not be) part of the school budget. Additionally, money from this fund which is not used in the course of the school year will be held in reserve for future site improvement projects.

Examples of equipment, landscaping materials and other materials:

• Plants for our gardens;

• A karaoke machine for school plays;

• Bird seed.

Examples of Capital Fund expenditures:

• The playground fund;
• Money for a sign for the school.

Money from this fund is not intended to pay for equipment, systems or items which should be purchased by the community.  We do not intend to use this money to supplement the school budget on the purchase of such items as computer equipment & peripherals, facility expenditures or upkeep.

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