Parents Jazzed Over PTA Convention

Long Beach - With layoffs and budget cuts impacting schools, many parents want to get involved to make sure their kids don't get shortchanged. That's why Long Beach has been the place to be... for the PTA Convention.

FOX 11's Gigi Graciette has the story in the video report.

Story Script:

PARENTS EXCITED OVER THE PTA? YOU BET THEY ARE....WITH OVER FOUR THOUSAND OF THEM FROM ALL OVER THE STATE GATHERING IN LONG BEACH FOR THE ANNUAL CALIFORNIA PTA CONVENTION.

JO LOSS/PRES, CA STATE PTA
"SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED MIGHT THINK THAT THE PTA IS ALL ABOUT BAKE SALES AND THE SCHOOL CARNIVAL, BUT THERE'S MUCH MORE TO THIS NOW? THERE SURE IS! PARENT EDUCATION IS OUR FOCUS."

THE FOUR DAY EVENT OFFERING WORKSHOPS ON EVERYTHING A PTA PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW.

JO LOSS/PRES, CA STATE PTA
"RESEARCH SHOWS THAT PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE NUMBER ONE FACTOR IN A CHILD'S ACADEMIC SUCCESS."

BUT WITH CALIFORNIA'S BUDGET CRISIS, THIS YEAR'S FOCUS IS ON MONEY...OR THE LACK OF IT FOR EDUCATION.

TOM HORN/CA STATE PTA
"WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SACRAMENTO IS REALLY AFFECTING THE STUDENTS. THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY"

CAROL KOCIVAR/CA STATE PTA
"PARENTS ARE VERY VERY CONCERNED AND THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG MESSAGES IS WE NEED PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED"

SO PARENTS ARE TURNING TO FUNDRAISING LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

SHONNA POLIMENI AND CATHY GONZALEZ SAY IT'S ALMOST LIKE A FULLTIME JOB -- THEY'RE HERE TO GET IDEAS.

SHONNA POLIMENI/PARENT
"PE PROGRAMS HAVE GONE AWAY, ART PROGRAMS, A LOT OF MUSIC PROGRAMS SO WE DO A LOT OF THAT FUNDING. IF IT WASN'T FOR OUR PTA AT OUR SCHOOL WE WOULDN'T HAVE AN ART PROGRAM."

CATHY GONZALEZ/PARENT
"WE'RE GOING TO DO A PENNY DRIVE THIS YEAR, PENNIES FOR PAPER. SO THE KIDS COME IN, PUT PENNIES IN A JAR AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND UTILIZE IT TO BUY PAPER JUST FOR THE SCHOOL BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IN NEED THEY ARE. IT'S THAT BAD. YES IT IS"