Dear Alcott PTSA Members,

 

We are reaching out at a critical moment for our PTSA.

 

Over the course of this year, a small number of former PTSA board members who have since resigned, have continued to create challenges and making it difficult for the organization to function effectively. While differing perspectives are a natural and healthy part of any community, the current situation has reached a point where it is impacting our ability to serve our students, families, and school.

 

Without your support and engagement, this small group can continue to make the important work we do together difficult and challenging. Now more than ever, we need the support, engagement, and steady voices of our broader PTSA community to help ensure that we can remain focused on what is important, our shared mission to serve our school community.

 

We are committed to working through these challenges in a constructive and respectful manner so that we can remain focused on our shared mission: serving our students, families, and school community.

 

We are deeply appreciative of your continued support and engagement as they are essential to ensuring that the PTSA can move forward productively and remain focused on the important work we do together.

 

Thank you for supporting the PTSA’s mission to serve students, teachers, and strengthen our school community.

 

Sincerely,

Your PTSA

 

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Why is the PTSA Sending This Communication?

 

On February 27, 2026, the PTSA held our Winter General Membership Meeting (Winter GMM) online during which members voted on and approved four important items:   

• Adoption of our Standing Rules
• Election of new officers
• Approval of the revised budget
• Election of the Nominating Committee

This budget approval was a meaningful moment for our children, teachers, staff, and school community. The approved budget directly funds critical programs and support, helping to bridge the gap following funding cuts from the State and the Lake Washington School District. These include:

• Emergency preparedness supplies
• Sensory room and special needs resources
• Kindergarten support (field trip bussing, art supplies)
• 5th Grade camp
• School-wide assemblies (e.g., anti-bullying)
• Support for low-income families and counseling services
• Social-emotional learning
• Dance education
• STEAM enrichment
• Ongoing PTSA administrative, school and teacher support

These programs are now possible because members like you showed up and voted. 

 

For more information about the PTSA budget, mid-year budget review, revision process, and nonprofit considerations, click HERE.

 

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE PTSA BUDGET

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On March 10, 2026, 11 days after the GMM, the PTSA received a formal letter from the spouse of a former PTSA member demanding a Special Member Meeting to address invalidating the budget that was approved by the majority of members at the 2/27/26 Winter GMM. 

 

Under Washington State law, only 5% of the membership is required to demand such a meeting. On March 10, the PTSA had 311 members, meaning just 16 members out of 311 are required to call a Special Member Meeting.

 

To meet this 5% threshold, a petition was circulated within the school community to gather the required signatures.

 

If a Special Member Meeting is held:

• Only 10 members are required to establish quorum
• Only a simple majority of 6 out of 10 members could overturn the entire budget that was approved by the membership

This means that just 6 members out of 311 could invalidate the budget that was voted and approved by the majority of members at the 2/27/26 Winter GMM.

 

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 What Happens If the Budget Is Invalidated?

 

According to WSPTA guidance, a PTSA cannot operate without an approved budget. The PTSA board is responsible for preparing and presenting a proposed budget, and the membership votes to adopt or not adopt that budget.

 

At the February 27, 2026 Winter General Membership Meeting (GMM), the PTSA presented a revised budget, and the membership voted to adopt it. Since that time, the PTSA has been operating under that approved budget.

 

If this budget were to be invalidated, the PTSA would no longer have an approved budget in place. Without a member approved budget, the PTSA does not have the legal authority to spend funds.  This would mean that the PTSA would face significant limitations in its ability to operate and fund programs.

 

Programs impacted would include:

• Emergency preparedness and safety supplies
• Special education and sensory resources
• 5^th grade camp (6/10/26)
• Low income student support
• Field trip bussing and enrichment programs for kindergarten
• Upcoming hip-hop dance education for the entire school
• Administrative support
• Kindness & antibullying assemblies (5/26)
• Staff Appreciation Week (5/4/26 - 5/8/26)
• STEM and art education
• Classroom teachers materials funding
• After-school enrichment programs
• International culture event (5/14/26)
• Music and PE support
• Student clubs (math, science, student leadership, green team, safety patrol)
• 5th grade promotion (6/26)
• End-of-year party (6/26)
• Yearbook support for low-income students
• Library funding from the book fair
• Playground and school-wide support
• Curriculum enrichment grant
• And many more

If the budget is invalidated, our PTSA will be unable to serve our students, teachers, and school.

 

 

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What the PTSA is Asking You to Do

 

The PTSA is calling our own Special Member Information Session to support and ratify the budget that was approved on February 27 at the Winter GMM.

 

We are also asking members to vote on important updates to strengthen transparency and help safeguard the organization’s ability to serve the broader community.

 

At this Special Member Information Session that will take place on 4/20/26, members will discuss the following items:

• Ratifying the revised budget approved at the Winter GMM (2/27/26)
• Amending the Standing Rules to ensure budgets are shared with members in advance
• Amending Standing Rules to ensure meeting minutes are shared in advance
• Providing a mechanism to safeguard the PTSA from ongoing efforts to undermine its mission
  

After the meeting is closed, the members will have a chance to vote on these items.

 

Members do NOT have to attend the information session on 4/20/26 to vote.

 

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Key Dates and Voting Method

 

Here is how you can vote:

• Special Member Information Session called by the PTSA will be held on April 20, 2026 at 12:30 PM
  
  
• Voting window will open: April 22 at 8:00 AM 
  Voting window will close: May 2 at 8:00 AM
  
  
• Voting Method: Electronic ballot transmission
  All members will receive an email with a voting link by April 22 at 8:00AM.
  Members do NOT need to attend the 4/20/26 session to vote 
   

Please see below for the official notification letter from the Alcott PTSA calling a Special Member Information Session.

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Your Voice Is Critical

 

Please vote to standup for our budget. 

 

This is an important moment for our children's education.

 

Your participation ensures that:

• The programs our students rely on continue
• The will of the majority is upheld
• Our PTSA remains functional and focused on supporting our school

 

✅ Vote yes to stand up for our children's education.
✅ Vote yes to support our budget.
✅ Vote yes to support our kids, our teachers, and our school.

✅ Vote yes to send a clear message that your vote matters.

  

Thank you for standing up for our children, our teachers, and our school community.

 

Sincerely,

 

Your PTSA

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Here is the announcement calling for a Special Member Information Session by the PTSA, to support our budget:

Notice of Special Member Information Session – April 20, 2026 - Called by the PTSA -   Dear PTSA Members,   This notice is to inform you that a Special Membership Information Session has been called by the PTSA.   Date: April 20, 2026 Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Location: Online (session link will be shared upon request to website@alcottptsa.org)   The purpose of this session is to discuss the following items: Ratification of the 2/27/26 Member Approved Budget To ratify the budget that was presented and approved by the membership at the February 27, 2026 Winter General Membership Meeting. Standing Rules Amendment – Budget Distribution to Membership To amend the standing rules to require that the proposed budget be emailed to members 5–10 days prior to any membership meeting at which the budget will be considered. Standing Rules Amendment – Minutes Distribution of Membership To amend the standing rules to require that previous meeting minutes be emailed to members 5–10 days prior to any membership meeting. Standing Rules Amendment – Membership Termination Procedure To amend the standing rules to allow membership termination: An individual’s membership in Alcott PTSA may be terminated by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its board of directors for conduct that may damage the value and goodwill associated with PTA, or that violates the purposes, policies, or standing rules of Alcott PTSA, including the bylaws of WSPTA and National PTA. Details on the process for termination of membership are included in current WSPTA policy. Alcott PTSA shall notify the WSPTA board of directors within 5 business days if a membership has been terminated. *The wording in Purpose 4 is derived from a template provided by the Washington State PTA to local PTSAs regarding membership termination. It is intended to ensure alignment with the WSPTA Uniform Bylaws, Article IV, Section 7, and WSPTA Policy 2.6.2 (Section 10, 2024–25 Sample Local Standing Rules Template). **If initiated, the process would follow strict procedures outlined in WSPTA policy (including Section 2.6.2 of the WSPTA Policy Manual) to ensure fairness, due process, and an impartial review. This includes the WSPTA Bylaw requirement to follow WSPTA Policy 2.6.2, which includes the requirement that WSPTA provide two members of the three‑person review committee before any member can be terminated.  The PTSA board does not have the authority to remove membership unilaterally. Voting on the above items will take place by electronic ballot transmission. Voting Opens: April 22, 2026 at 8:00 AM Voting Closes: May 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM A secure voting link will be emailed to all members prior to the opening of the voting period. Members do NOT have to attend the discussion session on April 20, 2026 to vote. * The Tellers Committee will oversee the counting of all votes. **Alcott PTSA has requested support from WSPTA for the Tellers Committee. WSPTA has offered to provide an Inspector of Elections to assist with the process. The Inspector of Elections is a neutral party responsible for verifying that ballots are properly prepared, distributed only to eligible members, and accurately counted. Vote results will be announced after full verification by the Tellers Committee (with WSPTA support). Thank you for your continued support and engagement in our PTSA.   Sincerely, PTSA Board

 

 

 

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Here is the announcement calling for a Special Member Meeting by 5%, in an effort to invalidate the budget that was approved by the majority of our members at the 2/27/26 Winter General Membership Meeting: 

Notice of Special Member Meeting – June 3, 2026 - Can Be Called by 5% of Members -   Dear PTSA Members,   This notice is to inform you that a Special Membership Meeting has been called by at least 5% of members.   Date: June 3, 2026 Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Location: Online (meeting link will be shared upon request to website@alcottptsa.org)   The purpose of this meeting is the following items: Addressing the validity of the budget vote at the membership meeting that took place virtually at 12:30pm on February 27, 2026. Introducing a motion to amend the Standing Rules to specify that proposed budget votes shall be announced in advance, and proposed budgets shall be shared with general members in advance of the meeting when a vote is expected to take place.  NOTE: Voting for purpose #2 will take place at the Special Member Meeting.