The Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA) Bylaws states that when an officer of the organization files for candidacy for public office they are to resign within a week.
At North Chevy Chase Elementary School, the PTA Bylaws state that members in their official capacities shall not, directly or indirectly, participate or intervene...in any political campaign on behalf of...any candidate for public office...
And yet, at North Chevy Chase Elementary School (NCCES) we see what is typically a night devoted to spotlighting the heritage of students turned into what looks like a campaign event. 20 MINUTES of the 2 hour Culture and Heritage Night are being turned over to 5 County Councilmembers and 10 minutes will be spent hearing from a current candidate for a Board of Education seat.
The NCCES Culture and Heritage Night is being run by a current candidate for the Montgomery County Board of Education, Rita Montoya. Rita Montoya is currently the PTA President at North Chevy Chase Elementary School and is actively maintained that position while campaigning.
Here's how the Culture and Heritage Night is being advertised to NCCES students and parents:
But here's what the proposed Agenda for the NCCES Culture and Heritage Night looks like. Students and their families are in for a surprise.
For reference, here's what a typical MCPS elementary school Culture and Heritage or International Night looks like:
Is the May 2, 2024, School Culture Night at North Chevy Chase Elementary School a student centered, PTA event or a campaign event?
Ms. Montoya needs to resign asap, and voters need to rethink who they are going to choose for the BoE at large race.
ReplyDeleteCould be a problem if the Council presence is dedicated to Montoya support, but not otherwise. BOE and councilmembers attend PTA meetings occasionally. That many is really unusual, of course, but the NCC bylaws only prohibit organizational activity that tries to influence legislation (and intent, there, has to hold a lot of weight, as many PTA activities would seek to influence local decisions, like funding for school construction, assignment of SROs, etc.).
ReplyDeleteWhy not a problem, then? Because she is not an MCCPTA officer. There's a misunderstanding about MCCPTA that it controls the individual school PTAs. Each school's PTA inherits from the state PTA (currently "Free State PTA"), which inherits from National PTA. MCCPTA is, literally, a coalition of individual school PTAs aimed at support (like helping get those individual PTA bylaws done) and group advocacy (sometimes contentious among members). It doesn't appear, here, that the *NCC PTA* bylaws require her to step down, as it would be if she were, say, the MCCPTA President.
Still, having 5 Councilmembers appear at your PTA meeting hints at something. Will be interesting to see the reports from tonight's meeting.
You misread the NCCES Bylaws. Maybe you intentionally left out that it refers to a prohibition from participation in campaigns for a candidate for office.
DeleteThe post does not say that Montoya is a MCCPTA officer. There is no misunderstanding. The post shows the MCCPTA Bylaws and the NCCES Bylaws. Both make reference to political campaigns/candidates and the involvement of PTA. There is a theme there.
Montoya is the NCCES PTA President. She is still in her office and she is using that office in her campaign literature. This evening's event is her event and she has turned over 30 minutes of what should be an evening about students to 5 elected officials. What purpose does that serve?
Didn't misread the NCCPTA bylaws, but, from your reply, you missed that. It was the very beginning of my own comment -- it could be a problem *if* the councilmembers' presence is/was dedicated to Montoya support. Otherwise, the NCCPTA was not participating in Montoya's campaign.
DeleteMontoya notes her NCCPTA presidency as anyone would note education-related involvement. It's relevant to jer candidacy. It does not imply endorsement by that PTA.
The point is that, while the optics aren't great and while there is the *possibility* of there being a bylaws violation if *campaigning* for Montoya happened at the NCCPTA event, just having the councilmembers there and giving them time isn't a violation.
And it remains unclear why the *MCCPTA* bylaws were mentioned in the initial report, as Montoya, not being an officer of *that* organization, did not have the noted obligation to step down.
Again, you are skipping over the key facts. Not only was Montoya a candidate for office, but so was a Councilmember and that councilmember distributed promotional literature.
DeleteYou don't have to understand the underlying ethical issues, that's why the PTA and MCCPTA organizational documents make the points that campaigning and PTA don't mix.
It’s not surprising that she gets attacked the day after she takes a strong stance against antisemitism in Montgomery County Public schools. And it’s entirely not surprising that she gets attacked by this group for that.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you talking about? What strong stance? What group are you talking about?
DeleteAre you gonna post the video you took?
ReplyDeleteWho are you asking about a video? Maybe you posted this question on the wrong place?
DeleteThe video that you took at the event. I have a picture of you recording it.
DeleteLOL Interesting since I wasn't there.
DeleteBetter luck next time Janis.
ReplyDeleteNo one named Janis ran for the Board of Education. Is your point that Montoya will get through the primary? That's typical for Montgomery County. Electing people that do not abide by ethical standards is on point. If she gets elected to the Montgomery County Board of Education we can look forward to more violations of the Maryland Open Meetings Act and more approvals of under the table procurements. The Beidleman's of the school system can celebrate.
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