|
|
2004
Convention Resolutions
[Printable
PDF file in Membership Library]
PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT RESOLUTION
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA Board of Managers urges
the State Board of education to develop additional policy
proposals regarding specific plans to increase parent
involvement in the education of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s
public schools students; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA Board of Managers urge
the State Board of Education to foster and support active
parent involvement at the state, district, and local school
levels with the statewide adoption of this Parent and Family
Involvement Resolution and be it further
RESOLVED, that the VA PTA urge the Virginia Board of Education
and the Virginia General Assembly adopts the National PTA
Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
RESOLVED, That Virginia PTA urges local and state governments
and the federal government to make an increased investment
in funding quality after-school programs, accessible
to all children, and where possible using school facilities;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That Virginia PTA urges all of its constituents
and members to work with local communities to establish
affordable, quality after-school programs.
BULLYING
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA support legislation requiring
school districts to have policies dealing with bullying
and programs to prevent bullying and in some way secure
or require treatment and /or skilled intervention for both
bullies and their targets; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA through its member councils
and units, encourage their school boards to adopt policies
dealing with bullying and have programs in their school
districts to recognize and prevent bullying and in some
way secure or require treatment and/or skilled intervention
for both bullies and their targets; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA through its member councils
and local units, encourage and sponsor programs such as
conflict resolution, anger management, assertiveness, self-esteem
and social interaction to help both bullies and their targets;
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA through its member councils
and local units promote public awareness of bullying policies
and issues as well as programs for parents, students, and
school personnel, to bring about an atmosphere of zero
tolerance for bullying behavior and an attitude that bullying
behavior is unacceptable in homes, schools, playgrounds,
buses, school activities, or any place children congregate.
INHALANTS
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA through its districts,
councils and local units will endeavor through literature,
programs and projects to educate parents, students and
school personnel about the dangers of inhalant use, and
be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA encourage other state PTAs
to adopt similar resolutions.
DEXTROMETHORPHAN ABUSE
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA seek and/or support legislation
that would ban the internet sale of bulk dextromethorphan;
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA seek and/or support legislation
to prohibit the sale of dextromethorphan products to minors
under the age of 18 years old; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA encourage its PTA districts,
councils and local units to distribute copies of this Resolution
and provide information about the dangers and signs of
dextromethorphan abuse to schools, libraries and other
public facilities.
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA encourage other state PTAs
to adopt similar
resolutions.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR ALL CHILDREN
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA urge its units, councils,
and districts to encourage school districts and individual
schools to improve the nutritional content and quality
of foods and beverages provided or sold to students on
campus, and to encourage the sale of nutritious foods
and beverages during and before school hours; and be
it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA support legislation, regulation,
and other state and local actions that promote the sale
and distribution of healthy and nutritious food and beverages
on school campuses; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA and its units, councils
and districts support actions by state and local governments
and local educational agencies that will discourage the
elimination of recess as a form of student punishment,
encourage continuation, expansion or implementation of
intramural athletic programs and will provide for high-quality
age and developmentally appropriate daily physical education
programs for all children in prekindergarten through grade
12; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA encourage and support nutrition
and health education for parents, students, teachers and
community members that addresses the issue of overweight
and obese children as well as healthy nutrition and regular
exercise for all children; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA encourage alternatives
to selling low-nutrition, high fat and/or highly sweetened
foods and beverages when school organizations elect to
fundraise.
ARTIFICIAL FOOD ADDITIVES
RESOLVED, that Virginia PTA urge its units, councils and
districts to encourage school districts and individual
schools to read the available research on artificial
food additives' negative effects on children's health,
behavior and learning; and be it further
RESOLVED, that Virginia PTA and its units, councils, and
districts support actions by state and local governments
and local educational agencies that will discourage the
sale and consumption of foods and beverages containing
artificial food additives on school campuses before during,
and after school hours; and be it further
RESOLVED, that Virginia PTA and its units, councils and
districts support nutrition and health education for parents,
students, teachers and community members that addresses
the potential effects of artificial food additives on children,
including behavioral, educational and physical impacts;
and be it further
RESOLVED, that Virginia PTA urge the state Board of Education
to review available research on the effects of artificial
food additives on Virginia's public school students and
attempt to assess the financial impact on Virginia public
schools; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA encourage other state PTAs
to adopt similar resolutions.
ADOPTION
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA recognizes adoption as
one of many ways to form a family, and wishes to support
children in families formed by adoption; and be it further
RESOLVED, that Virginia PTA urges the Virginia Board of
Education to take the steps necessary in order to:
• Ensure that age-appropriate adoption books, which appeal
to nonadoptees as well as adoptees, be made available in
all elementary school libraries.
• Ensure that the same books are approved for reading in
the classrooms.
•
Encourage all elementary schools’ staff including
principals, counselors and teachers, to attend workshops
for educators, such as those offered free of charge by
The Center for Adoption Support and Education, Inc. (C.A.S.E.),
to make them better prepared to support children who were
adopted.
• Distribute a memo on positive adoption language to every
teacher, counselor and principal in the state on an annual
basis.
• Recognize National Adoption Awareness Month each November;
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA will encourage other state
PTAs to adopt similar resolutions.
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR TESTING RESPONSIBILITIES
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA will encourage local units
and councils to seek School Board policy that prohibits
the use of guidance counselors as school based testing
coordinators to enable school counselors to devote their
time to their professional duties as counselors.
LOCAL CHOICE ON OPENING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
RESOLVED, that the Virginia PTA, its units, councils and
districts, shall urge Virginia legislators to amend the
Code of Virginia 22.1-7.1 to grant local school boards
the authority to determine start dates for the school
year.
|
