PTO a strong supporting arm for PdC schools

By Correne Martin

At the beginning of the school year, students at B.A. Kennedy and Bluff View in Prairie du Chien received some rather short school supply lists. Minimal items per child were requested, particularly in comparison to other schools’ lists.

Thanks to the Prairie du Chien public schools’ parent teacher organization, this support greatly assists parents and guardians, especially those with multiple children in the schools, in terms of keeping school supply costs affordable.

For the past five or six years, each grade, from 3K through eighth, has received $500 from PTO funds to use toward classroom supplies. On top of that, the PTO buys a substantial amount of disinfecting wipes and facial tissue for both schools.

According to Diane Zahara, PTO president, 600 boxes of Kleenex and 600 containers of Clorox wipes were purchased for the 2017-2018 school year, equaling a $4,400 expenditure for the organization.

“Adding that to the little carryover we have from last year, it should be enough for this year,” Zahara said.

That stockpile is, of course, in addition to the crayons, pencils, markers, paper, scissors, books, technology, etc., that are purchased with the $500 per grade level. Overall, around $9,000 comes from PTO funds yearly to lessen the financial burden on families.

Zahara pointed out that the dollars spent on school supplies are for needs only, too. “It’s not about the frilly things either. It’s about the best bang for the buck,” she said, noting that the PTO shops for the best deals when making that yearly educational investment.

“There’s a great financial need in this town,” added Karen Moris, PTO vice president and secretary. “Especially for school supplies, it feels so good to alleviate that strain for parents.”

Certainly, those supplies are paid for with funds raised by parents, families and the community. The PTO’s largest fundraiser of the year is its Club’s Choice project. Students in grades 4K through fourth receive brochures filled with merchandise to sell to family, friends and acquaintances. The wide selection of products includes everything from pizza, cookie dough, delectable treats and soups, to Christmas wrap, kitchen utensils, fashion wear, home decor, unique gadgets and other gifts.

Club’s Choice got underway Sept. 15 and ends Sept. 29. Purchases will be delivered in time for the holidays.

Both Zahara and Moris encourage the students’ family members as well as community members, who appreciate the PTO’s contribution toward school supplies, to consider buying these products from the students.

Additional fundraisers headed by the PTO mainly include three youth dances each year—around Halloween, Valentine’s Day and in the spring—and an annual Blackhawks spirit wear sale.

“We’ve been doing this a long time,” Zahara said about their dedication to PTO. In addition to the two women, Chris Kotte, treasurer, has been a committee member for many years. The organization itself has existed locally since about 1985. “We have a core group of parents who come to our meetings (the first Monday of the month, 6:30 p.m., B.A.K. library), and then parents step in to help with our events as needed.”

The Prairie du Chien PTO’s mission is to “enhance the educational experience of children at the Prairie du Chien School District by supporting educational and enrichment activities through volunteerism and financial support and by fostering existing relationships and building new ones between school, parents, teachers and community of Prairie du Chien.”

“When we see those smiles on the kids’ faces, it’s all worth it,” Moris stated.

“We’ve even gotten letters from the students thanking us for what we do,” Zahara remarked. “We used to do several fundraisers, but [Club’s Choice] has been pretty successful for us.”

School supplies and basic advocation for the schools, teachers and students are the PTO’s main purpose. But fun, general support and motivation are also key to its purpose. The PTO helps sponsor academic, leisure and entertaining activities for the district throughout each year.

Basically, anything that’s not in the district budget, the PTO endeavors to help with that, Zahara said.

To find out more, the Prairie du Chien PTO has an up-to-date Facebook page, or those interested can contact any one of the school offices with questions.