BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024 December 19, Thursday)
Don Harrold, Writer / Editor
blairtoday@mail.com – Facebook
Each month, elementary school teachers across Blair receive a special delivery – $40 worth of classroom supplies they’ve personally selected, accompanied by a warm lunch. This initiative, known as ‘Bear Packs,’ represents just one way the Blair Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) supports local education, serving thousands of students across Arbor Park and Deerfield Elementary Schools.
“Blair PTO is Blair Parent Teacher Organization and we serve Arbor Park Elementary and Deerfield Elementary,” said Cassie Petersen, President of the Blair PTO board. “And really it’s for any parents that want to volunteer and get involved. And we really serve the teachers and the students of both of the elementary and the parent-teachers.”
The organization focuses on creating connections between families, educators, and the community through targeted programs and events. This month, they provided supplies and appreciation lunches to special education teachers and paraprofessionals at both schools, demonstrating their commitment to supporting all aspects of elementary education.
When asked about their relationship with teachers, Petersen described overwhelmingly positive feedback. “The last couple years we’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback they’re very very grateful for the things that we do to show appreciation and that we can contribute to their classroom it’s been nothing but positive interactions,” she said.
The organization maintains a careful balance between supporting teachers and respecting professional boundaries. When asked if they provide teaching guidance, Petersen clarified their role: “No, that’s not really in our scope; we just more focused on how can we support them to make you know a positive environment in their lives.”
Addressing concerns about school budgets and teacher supplies, Petersen offered a measured perspective. “I don’t think that these are necessarily required materials,” she explained. “I think it’s a pretty well-known fact that there are a lot of times that teachers use their own money to buy supplies and extra games and extra things, and so as a PTO, it doesn’t feel like a requirement, but it is nice to be able to provide a game that the students may not have access to otherwise.”
Unlike the school board, the PTO operates independently. “We’re just an independent organization that partners with the schools,” Petersen said. “We have no authority and no power.” Their funding comes primarily through community support. “We’ve received quite a few donations the last couple of years,” she noted. “We do not have a large budget and we really aren’t, you know, we really just try to do things that cost and not make a ton of money.”
The organization has worked to rebuild membership following COVID-19’s impact. “I think that there was a little bit of a drop in COVID, but otherwise pretty significantly, the last few years, there hasn’t been a lot of involvement,” Petersen said. “This is my first year being president, the board is really trying to work on encouraging people to get involved and, you know, get more volunteers and get some consistency going with what PTO does and who we are.”
When asked about ideal PTO members, Petersen emphasized inclusivity. “Really anybody that just wants to be involved and, you know, give back to not only the schools, but our community,” she said. Speaking from personal experience, she added, “I have a first grader. And really, I wanted to be involved in the school and get to know, you know, the staff and the administration that we’re going to be with my child every day. But also, it was a really good way to meet other parents.”
The PTO maintains an active calendar of community events. Their recent activities included a trunk retreat in October and their first annual trivia night in November. “We did our first annual trivia night in November. And that was fun. We had families come in, and we did a family movie trivia. There were prizes and dinner and treats and all kinds of fun stuff,” Petersen said.
Looking ahead, their “Cookies, Cards, and Cocoa” event takes place at Deerfield on December 19 and at Arbor Park on December 20, 2024. During these events, families join their students to make cards for community service workers while enjoying refreshments together.
Their next major event, the Bear Cub Ball, is scheduled for February 8 at Arbor Park. “We just have like a big snack bar with fun things, and then there’s face painting, and then there’s a dance, and we have raffles and all kinds of fun stuff,” Petersen explained. “It’s not exclusive, and bring the kids out; it’s fun for the kids. It’s a good way to meet you know other parents.”
When asked about the importance of parent involvement in today’s educational environment, Petersen emphasized the value of engagement. “If you’re making the commitment, you know, to send your child to public school and they’re there every day, you know, seven hours a day for nine months out of the year, I think it’s really important to, one, help create a positive environment for that student to go to.”
The organization maintains its focus on fostering positive relationships within the school community. “We really are just working to create that positive environment in the schools and help out, um, in any way that the teachers need or ask for,” Petersen concluded.
Find the Blair PTO Online at https://blairpto.ptboard.com/, and here on Facebook.
