We welcome Karen Manning as the new co-president joining Jennifer Abbott this year and also welcome to our Executive Board new member Doreen Rachal.

A huge thank you to Sunwoo Kahng and Lori Knowles for their service on our Executive Board for the last two years and to Frieda Dweck and Theresa Fitzpatrick who along with Jennifer Abbott have been working tirelessly as Council Co-Presidents to fulfill the purpose of the PTO Council (and so much more), as stated in our bylaws:

To serve as a fact-finding and discussion body to clarify issues related to the Newton Public Schools and to recommend or take appropriate action on such issues where advisable;

To act as a clearinghouse for information from members of the school administration and community leaders to the member Parent-Teacher Organizations and Parent-Teacher-Student Organizations (collectively referred to herein as the “PTOs”), to provide communication among the member PTOs, and to provide communication from the member PTOs to the community and to the members of the school administration; and

To act as an advocate for public education in Newton and in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.