The PTSA Board on June 3 approved a 2019-20 spending plan of more than $133,000, including new investments in programs and events intended to build community and address equity issues at the school. The PTSA membership is to vote on the budget at the community meeting starting at 6 pm on Monday, June 10. [See the full budget.]

As always, a significant amount of the budget will go straight into grants made to teachers ($300 each guaranteed, plus an application process for additional funds) and supplies (art, science and library). Professional development funding is also expected to help teachers to prepare for detracked Social Studies classes. And the “Opportunity Grants” allocation of $20,000 will offer staff the option to apply for money for equipment, field trips and other projects, and is also intended to assist the incoming Principal, Katrina Hunt, as she identifies needs not covered by District funding.

A new allocation of $7,000 will support racial equity efforts that will be planned in the coming months, and $4,500 is in a translations/interpreters budget to make PTSA events more accessible to  families not fluent in English. Another $7,000 will help create community and parent-education events, and $3,000 will assist HOST in creating Multicultural Night.

While PTSA funding is not providing additional staffing at Washington, the budget will again underwrite teacher-overtime costs for staff-led events such the Science Showcase and Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences. The many other items covered by the budget include teacher appreciation events, Writers in the Schools guest teachers, printing of the Family Directory,

As Principal-designate Hunt settles into her new role, PTSA leadership expects to collaborate with the Washington administration to consider adjustments to the spending plan. The Board has some authority to shift funds and spend reserve dollars, and also is able to ask the PTSA membership for approval of major changes.

The budget will require the PTSA Annual Fund to raise at least $100,000. In addition to using other income, the Board expects to spend down about $22,000 in accumulated reserves.