Storm Didn’t Keep Rep. Stacey Abrams, Parents Away from Monthly SNAPPS Meeting

Southwest and Northwest Atlanta Parents and Partners for Schools (SNAPPS) hosted a review of the 2011 legislative session and a school principals' roundtable discussion Mon., Feb. 28.

Despite a heavy storm, SNAPPS president Shawnna Hayes-Taveres said the meeting—entitled "What's On the Menu this Year? (If we are not at the table, we are on the menu!)"—was very productive.

 “We want to help parents to become more empowered,” Hayes-Taveres, a mother of students at , Inman Middle and schools, said after the meeting. “We need to be involved in the process and our meetings give the parents and community a chance to find out what is happening.”

Hayes-Taveres said all four principals scheduled for the monthly roundtable (from Kimberly, Fickett, Bunche and Deerwood Academy) attended and fielded questions. In addition, she said State Minority House Leader Rep. Stacey Abrams attended the organization's meeting for a second time in a row to answer questions about state law, education and representation.

Last month SNAPPS began promoting a series of community meetings to step up awareness of public school issues that affect children from westside neighborhoods in Atlanta.

The organization unveiled a list of demands last month to residents to respond to three challenges facing the schools: 1) an upcoming search for a new superintendent, 2) allegations of cheating on the 2009 Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) and 3) the board's Sept. 30 probation deadline to meet six directives and avoid loss of accreditation. 

SNAPPS has several meetings planned over the next few months including a free leadership retreat for PTA and local school council members on March 12, and the group's next monthly meeting, 6 to 8 p.m., Mon., March 28, at Adamsville Elementary School.

For information about SNAPPS or to join the organization go to: http://snappsatl.org.