The Return of the MSA

Back in the day, when Middletown parents had a concern about the schools, they took it to the MSA. That group, which typically included the leadership of all the PTA/PTO's in town plus assorted activists, would meet monthly and talk about "the big picture" of how the school system was doing.

MSA stands for Middletown Schools Association, and it's been dormant for at least two years. Tonight, a group of current and former PTA/PTO parents, brought together by Parent Resource Coordinator Donna Marino, met to discuss the possibility of getting the group up and running again.

I've been a part of the Macdonough PTA since the days when my (now 18-year-old) son was a kindergartner. I remember going to MSA meetings in the mid-nineties and finding a large group of experienced volunteers with many a bake sale under their belts. They played a role that was part cheerleader and part watchdog and served as a sounding board for the superintendent and the Board of Ed.

On the practical level, the monthly MSA meeting was a forum for sharing fundraising and programming ideas between parents from different schools. But at its most powerful, it played a role in real change in town. For example, our current system of having staggered four-year terms for Board of Ed elections was a successful charter initiative of the MSA. When a big issue came up, such as the redistricting of attendance boundaries in town, you could bet that the MSA would be involved.

In addition the MSA veterans who attended tonight's meeting, there were parents from Moody, Wesley, Spencer, Macdonough and Middletown High. The combined years of PTA/PTO experience in the room surely pushed past the century mark, and everyone agreed that the school district has its best chance at thriving when there is an active and informed group of parents in the loop.

The next step is to identify officers who will be willing to lead the new MSA. If you are a person who cares about the schools and might be interested in MSA in any capacity, now is not the time to hide your light under a bushel! Please contact Parent Resource Coordinator Donna Marino at marinod@mps1.org. The next meeting will likely be on Monday, March 22nd, at 6:30 pm, at a location to be determined.