Eastside PTO adds committee to support Alternative School
Clinton Public School District
Dr. Tim Martin, Superintendent
(601) 924-7533
Media contact: Sandi Beason, APR
CLINTON — Clinton Alternative School has a small enrollment and a dozen faculty and staff. It does not have any booster clubs or a Parent Teacher Organization.
“Many families rely on the services we offer at Clinton Alterative School, and these teachers and staff are very dedicated, hard-working people,” said Dr. Tim Martin, superintendent. “For many years, the PTOs at other schools have supported Clinton Alternative as they could with monetary donations and teacher hospitality.”
Beginning this school year, the Eastside Elementary PTO made sure that support is always in place by adding a permanent committee dedicated to CAS.
“We know they need help every year,” said Eastside PTO President Tammie Stephens. “I talked to (Eastside Principal Cindy Hamil) and told her I thought we should create a committee devoted to just the Alternative School, and it would function just like our Eastside Hospitality Committee. She loved the idea so we got started.”
Enrollment at CAS fluctuates depending on how many students are referred there at any given time in the school year. There are currently 37 students enrolled.
“We are extremely grateful to all our PTOs for their monetary donations to our school,” said Amanda Durst, CAS teacher. “It helps weekly with rewards for our students who have met or exceeded their goals and expectations for the week. Without their support it would be a challenge, at best, to find ways to motivate our students to succeed.”
Durst said when the Eastside PTO committee visited CAS earlier this school year, several PTO members stayed and visited with each of the CAS teachers and staff.
“It’s more than just sending something to our staff, it’s their time and support that means the most,” Durst said.
Traditionally, each school’s PTO contributes to a CAS fund overseen by the Clinton Junior High PTO. Each school PTO also chooses a month during the school year to provide teacher hospitality to CAS faculty.
“Going forward, the Alternative School will know that Eastside has December and April, Christmas gifts and treats throughout the year,” Stephens said. “We also gave $200 this year, and we will include that in our budget every year now along with money to purchase items for the lunches twice a year.”
The committee is planning a spring event in April and has arranged for coffee once a month from Cafezinho and doughnuts from Donut Palace.
“Our December treat for them went over really well,” said Jessica Slade, committee chairwoman. “You could tell it was a new thing and that they were not used to that kind of special treatment.”
Slade said the committee is planning a special treat for the CAS teachers in April, and will include them in Teacher Appreciation Week in May.