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The SPF PTA Council has provided a forum for those who care about education issues for more than 45 years for the children of Scotch Plains & Fanwood. 

The objectives of this Council are:

1. To provide a forum of officers and representatives of the Parent Teacher Association, school administrators, and the liaisons of local organizations that share matters of common interest with the public schools of Scotch Plains-Fanwood.

2. To promote unity, acquaintance, and good will among the local public school associations.

3. To afford local educational leadership an opportunity to exchange ideas with the representatives of the different associations.

4. To work toward fulfilling the mission of the PTA on a district wide basis where appropriate.

The Council bylaws describe the basic policies to be followed by the group. In brief, these are:

1. that the Council will be "noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan".

2. that the name of the organization or any of its members in their official capacities will not be used to endorse or promote a commercial concern or any partisan interest or for inappropriate promotion of objects not related to the Council.

3. that the Council will not participate or intervene, directly or indirectly, in any political campaign or that it will not devote more than an insubstantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.

4. that it will work with the County Council and schools to provide quality education for all children and youth, and seeks to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to the Board of Education.

5. that it will cooperate with the County Council and other organizations/ agencies concerned with child welfare, but persons representing this Council in such matters will make no commitments that bind the Council and County Council.

6. that no part of the net earning will inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to its members, directors, trustees, officers or other private persons except that the organization is authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.

The President may serve only one year, but the others may serve for another year. The President of the Council performs the functions and duties necessary to fulfill the objectives of PTA Council.

The Vice President assumes the duties of the President in his/ her absence or inability to serve and acts as an aid to the President. He/ she also has the additional responsibility for publicity.

The Recording Secretary sees to the recording, printing, and distribution of all Council and Presidents' Committee meeting minutes and distributes and maintains an accurate record of the PTA Council membership. 

The Corresponding Secretary reports all correspondence received and sent and responds when necessary. The Secretary notifies the membership one week in advance of Council meetings. Based on requests from PTA Boards & their committees, he/ she makes the PTA bulk mailing permit available on mailings approved by the Officers of Council.

The Treasurer keeps an accurate and detailed account of all monies received and paid out and submits a statement at regular PTA council meetings. This report is filed for audit. By June 15, all books are closed and submitted for audit which is completed by June 30. He/ she is also responsible for auditing the YPT Committee. The YPT books are obtained by June 30 & the audit is completed and reported on at the October Council Meeting.

The President also appoints a parliamentarian and the Union County PTA liaison. The past Council President also serves on Council.

Only the Council President or his/ her designee may speak for Council and then only after conferring with the local school Presidents and/ or Council.

The PTA Council Officers also sit on the Presidents' Committee in their respective capacities.

The SPF PTA Council Officers for the year 2008-2009 are:

Each school should have three additional representatives to Council along with the school principal.  The high school should have four reps besides the principal.   

Each school pays dues, set by the Council, on an annual basis. These dues go towards:

1. Chemical Dependency activities that sponsors district- wide forums and Think Purple Week for drug and alcohol awareness
2. Awareness activities regarding school budget and voting
3. Publicity of SPF PTA Council sponsored activities like Educational Forum, Candidate's Night etc. 
4. Administrative expenses and dues to Union County Council.

There is NO fundraising by Council. 

PTA exists to advocate for all our children.  To carry out this business, we need to raise funds for PTA business:  newsletters, parenting programs, educational enrichment activities such as assemblies and science fairs.  However, fund-raising is NOT the primary focus of PTA. In PTA Council, we endeavor to train new officers to be aware of this difference.  Although parents are sometimes tempted to launch a lucrative fund-raiser in an effort to subsidize school costs and to lessen taxpayers' burdens, PTA must caution parents against this misstep into the Board of Education's responsibility.  Nonprofit corporation laws, furthermore, forbid organizations like PTA raising money to be given to another organization.  By following the regulations for nonprofit corporations, PTA members both respect the Board of Education and the mission of PTA.  Any member who has questions about appropriate fund-raising activities, procedures, guidelines, etc., is encouraged to contact their PTA president and treasurer.
Click here to read more on fundraising policy as stated by the NJ PTA.

In addition to reps from the local school PTAs, and standing committees, there are liaisons from various education and related organizations/ associations from the community. Each group is invited to report at each Council meeting. Additional liaisons may be added by amendment to the Bylaws.

The Council holds four meetings each school year in October, January, March , and May. The May meeting consists of two consecutive parts. The first is designated as the regular May meeting and the second which follows immediately after adjournment of the regular May meeting is designated the Annual meeting that also includes installation of officers for the upcoming year.

All Council meetings are typically held on the second Wednesdays of the above mentioned months and are scheduled to start at 9:15 am at the Board of Ed. offices, unless otherwise provided for by the Council.

Meetings include reports from the officers, committee chairpersons as well as from the liaisons from school and community (education related) organizations. Occasionally, speakers are brought in for short talks on school or education related topics.

Meeting Schedule for the year 2008-2009 

• American Education Week - displays of artwork and literature in the two public libraries, handled by the Council Cultural Arts Committee annually in November 
• "Think Purple" Week - a substance abuse awareness activity of the Council Chemical Dependency Committee, annually in March 
• Young People's Theater - a series of cultural arts activities for younger students 
• Tour of the High School 
• Coffees with the Superintendent - held at the middle schools and hosted by them.  Middle school PTAs are expected to provide the refreshments for these meetings. 
• Educational Forums  - parent programs on topics chosen by Council;  the number can vary by year 
• Roundtables with the Board of Ed. and/ or the Superintendent – held as determined by Council. 
• Support for the School Budget - as determined by Council 
• Candidates Night - to introduce the Board of Education candidates to the public

• Annual Luncheon for Past Council Presidents and current officers after the May meeting. 
• The Council officers provide refreshments at the Council meetings. Signup occurs early in the school year. This includes paper goods. The Board of Ed. office provides coffee and hot water. 
• Local school President and/ or their PTA Scholarship Committee chairperson represent their school at the annual Senior Awards Night in May to confer their school PTA scholarship.

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