By Barbara A. Preston | Posted Nov. 20, 2025
Montgomery School Board member Christina Harris reported at the Tuesday, Nov. 18 board meeting that volunteerism — related to the parent-teacher organizations — is down across the school district.
"It decreases with each passing year, and gets worse in the upper grades," Harris reported.
From left: Montgomery School Board members Vanita Nargund, Ania Wolecka-Jernigan, and Christina Harris.
Photo by Barbara A. Preston.
Harris read a letter from Montgomery High School PTSA President Jin Patel urging parents to join the school district's PTA, PTO, and PTSA organizations. Patel is also a former school board member.
"From August through the start of school, 58 families had signed up for the PTSA this year. ... That's 58 families out of roughly 1600 MHS students."
The Montgomery High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), is a non-profit organization that supports the school's students and staff through various programs and activities. Other related organizations include the Montgomery Elementary Schools (MES) PTA and the Montgomery Special Education PTA (MSEPTA), which also work to support students, teachers, and families within the broader Montgomery Township School District.
Last year, the PTSA had 165 members, and is experiencing a 59% drop in members year-after-year, Harris said.
The latest PTSA newsletter highlighted the "dire situation," and generated an uptick in membership — to 113 members. But that is still a 32% decrease from last year.
The PTSA is competing against hundreds of clubs, sport booster teams, and other groups that are all running fund raisers. So as not to compete against those clubs, the PTSA holds only two fundraisers. One is a membership drive, and the other is Snack Shack.
In addition to membership being way down, Snack Shack sales are also down significantly, Harris reported.
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"The truth is, without strong parent participation, the PTSA cannot continue to fund and organize many of the programs that benefit students and their families," she said. Last year, the interview clinic for students had to be cut. This year, the freshman boot camp (which cost about $200 to run) for parents was also canceled.
Future cuts would cancel events such as the annual ice cream social, as well as the annual teacher/staff appreciation events.
The parent organizations also fund grants for teachers, students, and various clubs. "Eliminating these would have a devastating effect on the entire school," Harris read.
These are examples of the types of programs the PTSA exists to provide. However, they depend on families stepping up to support the parent groups in the form of a membership.
"Simply joining, [parents] show that they value these programs and want them to continue," she said.
In addition to funding, volunteers are needed to run the events and programs.
Select the appropriate school to view the parent organization websites.
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On Tuesday, December 2, 7-8pm: Parent Meeting
Brief Presentation by Tom Wain, MTSD Director of Safety & Security
Board Member Michelle Dowling, liaison to the MSEPTA organization, reported that ESPN recognized Montgomery's UNIFIED program. See below.
The Montgomery Rocky Hill Municipal Alliance Youth Services Commission is recommending that parents "Wait Unit Eight." This means wait until eighth grade to give children cell phones See website for more information.
