by Caitlin Kenney

Laura from Marietta, Georgia writes:

I know you've been asking listeners to send in examples of the economic downturn they encounter in their own lives. Here's one from mine. I'm a PTA mom at an elementary school, Sope Creek Elementary, with one of the best PTA's in the country.

I'm forwarding our latest PTA e-mail, which informs us that we have failed to meet all of our fundraising goals so far this year and have even had to cancel a spring fundraising event because the company we do it with (which frames our children's artwork) has gone out of business.

In addition to this bad news, we've just been told by the superintendent of schools that Cobb County (our school district) will have to increase class sizes next year as a result of a budget shortfall.

 

PTA FUNDRAISING NEWS

As you know, our PTA fundraisers are critical to our ability to provide programs that enhance and enrich our children's learning experience at Sope Creek. From visiting authors to worm composting and Chief Sawgrass to the Winter Talent Show, the PTA provides programs that help to make Sope Creek a unique public school.

Unfortunately, the current economic times have not bypassed us this year. Our fall fundraisers have fallen short of their goal and our spring Art Show fundraiser scheduled in March has been cancelled due to the company going bankrupt.