Baltimore city will once again have a voice in the state's parent advocacy community, with the reinstatement of the PTA Council of Baltimore City, an organization that was stripped of its authority in the Maryland PTA in 2008 after its president was accused of using his platform to attack city schools CEO Andres Alonso.
The district and the state organization announced this week at the city's school board meeting that the Baltimore has rejoined the Maryland Parent Teacher Association, after it garnered the support of seven schools at a Jan. 24 meeting.
The city's council of PTAs was stripped of its authority to operate under the auspices of the state organization, amid concerns that the its president was expressing his personal views of the schools chief in his official capacity.
The organization rated the in a progress reporter after his first year, with its former president unilaterally issuing him a progress report, in which he was extremely critical of Alonso's plans to date.
For example: He gave Alonso an F for his revisions of the system's organizational chart (he said it doesn't include parents and community), a B-plus for frequency of school visits, a D in preparing and presenting the annual budget, a D for evaluating instruction, and a D-plus for professional development at the central office.
The group also was not operating within the state's organization's bylaws, officials said at the time, not able to produce a budget or meeting minutes.
It was ordered to "cease and desist" using the PTA name.
"It was a sad day, but it happened for reasons that were real " said city school board commissioner Bob Heck. "But it's a new day."
The organization has resurrected with a renewed vow to serve its purpose as a resource for schools to engage schools and parents in advocating for their students. The city will join 14 chartered councils in the state.
"The PTA Council will be a valuable line between home, school, and community while providing all with important information benefiting children," said Kay Ramero, president of the MDPTA.
The board joins the state's strongest parent advocacy voices, which advocates in both the nation's capital and the statehouse. The city school system put out a press release welcoming the reinstatement of the board.
"There was a need," said Deborah Demery, the new president of the city's board. "We went to a [recent MPTA meeting] and all Baltimore city could do was watch. Not anymore."
The PTA Council of Baltimore City will have its first meeting on March 6 at Bluford Drew Jemison-West, at 6:30 p.m.