Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Engagement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears PTSA leaders and Issaquah Schools Foundation on volunteer decline, fundraising events
Summary
Board members and PTSA council representatives said PTSA membership and volunteerism have fallen sharply since the pandemic; Issaquah Schools Foundation promoted its Nourish Every Mind luncheon and announced scholarship winners.
The board received presentations from the Issaquah Schools Foundation and PTSA council leaders who described declines in volunteer membership and outlined engagement strategies.
Issaquah Schools Foundation student trustee Asana (Ashna) Sikka invited the board and community to the ISF Nourish Every Mind luncheon on May 1 and Laura Gaffney, ISF board president, announced the foundation’s 2025 Impact Scholarship winners and fundraising plans (including an online auction through May 11). Gaffney noted the foundation’s role in funding programs and the importance of community attendance to recognize student accomplishments.
PTSA engagement and volunteer decline: Directors reported PTSA family participation rates fell from about 76% six years ago to about 41% currently (figures presented by board members), and PTSA leaders and board directors discussed causes including fewer parents available to volunteer, pandemic disruptions that broke informal mentorship, and knowledge gaps for new PTA/PSTSA leaders. Directors said the district and PTSA council discussed operational adjustments to encourage membership and volunteerism and suggested communications and onboarding improvements at the school level.
Why it matters: Board members said local PTSAs and the ISF provide many school‑level programs and supports (for example art docents, classroom supplies and school events) and declines in volunteerism could reduce those supports in selective schools. Directors urged families to join and to participate actively, not only in name, and asked staff to help publicize volunteer opportunities and to consider operational changes that ease participation.
Ending: Board members thanked PTSA and ISF leaders for their engagement and urged the community to attend Nourish Every Mind and to consider PTSA membership and volunteer roles; ISF scholarship recipients will appear at the Nourish Every Mind event.
