Word: localism
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...communities that are not regular viewers of prime-time press conferences or followers on Twitter. "Right in the middle of our biggest cities, where we assume everyone knows everything, there are people who don't have access to information," explains Bobby Pestronk, who directs a trade group of local health officials. "The new virus is exploiting weaknesses in the public-health system...
...associations (PTAs), school foundations, independent community groups - the methods may vary, but the goal remains the same: to prevent public schools from losing more staff and services. In New York City, some public-school parents recently came under fire for paying school aides out of their own pockets. The local teachers union filed a complaint, alleging that the positions were taking away jobs from higher-paid unionized aides. It's all a new twist on an old story. "School spending has been augmented by private sources for a long time," says Andy Rotherham, a co-founder of Education Sector...
...heavily involved with such vital financial issues. The National PTA, which claims 26,000 chapters, discourages its members from going too far. "Parents should not have to raise money to underwrite staff salaries," says Charles J. Saylors, president of the National PTA. "That's the responsibility of the local government. They should not be balancing their budgets on the backs of parents." (See pictures of the college dorm's evolution...
...parent who fears that her child's teacher is going to get downsized. Suny Bruun, a mother of two in Winner, S.D., this summer bypassed the PTA and formed an independent parent fundraising group, Keeping Intelligent Determined Students (KIDS). Its goal is not only to raise money for the local school district but also to lower the amount of a $500,000 tax hike the town proposed to cover teacher and aide salaries. In early July, a radiothon raised $42,066 through donations ranging from $10 to $2,000, and the group has planned both an online sale...
...under the illusion that they will be able to bake-sale their way into saving multiple jobs. Which is why some communities establish educational foundations. These nonprofits, typically staffed by volunteers, alumni and retired staff, take the university approach to fundraising: direct calls, mailings and appeals to former students, local businesses and even current staff. "This approach is different from relying on the PTA booster-club mentality," says Jim Collogan, president of the National School Foundation Association. "This says, We're going to get serious, find our alumni and talk to them about how to give back." (See 10 ways...