July 12, 2021

Ms. Bonnie Qin, President and Executive Board Members

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology PTSA
6560 Braddock Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22312

Dear Executive Board Members:

This letter will serve notice that Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology PTSA
(TJHSST PTSA) has been placed in a Probation Phase. During this Phase, TJHSST PTSA board
members will take no further actions that will diminish the value and goodwill associated with the
PTA trademarks.

Members of TJHSST PTSA who contacted us expressed ongoing distrust in TJHSST PTSA leadership
and demanded action of Virginia PTA and provided two (2) petitions, in addition to email
communications; Save the TJPTSA and Urge the entire TJPTSA Executive Board to resign.

There is evident harm to both TJHSST PTSA and Virginia PTA names and loss of goodwill cannot be
allowed to continue. While Virginia PTA believes it has cause to revoke the charter of TJHSST PTSA,
we would prefer to work with TJHSST PTSA leadership to repair the damage done. We have decided
to move TJHSST PTSA into the Probation Phase of Non-Compliance.

• Virginia PTA has assigned a support team to offer solutions, guidance, and oversee
TJHSST PTSA’s activities and progress towards compliance. The support team is
composed of Pam Croom, Jenna Alexander, Hamid Munir, Debbie Kilpatrick, Larry
Mills, Jason Morgan, all who can be reached at soasupport@vapta.org.
• Virginia PTA requires the TJHSST PTSA executive committee to develop and submit
a written Action Plan in consultation with the assigned support team and to submit
that plan to the support team at soasupport@vapta.org by August 20, 2021.
• Open regular, two-way, and meaningful communications with TJHSST PTSA general
membership and establishing a cooperative working environment in which TJHSST
PTSA general memberships’ concerns are addressed by August 1, 2021.
• TJHSST PTSA executive board members will sign a conflict of interest form and
provide the signed document to the support team by July 31, 2021.
• Ensuring a process is in place to provide proper notice of all special meetings, as per
TJHSST PTSA Bylaws, Code of Virginia, and Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised
by August 20, 2021.
• Creating a procedure that ensures special meetings are conducted in compliance
with parliamentary authority, so that special meetings deal with only "matters that
may arise between regular meetings and that require action by the society before
the next regular meeting, or to dedicate the entire session to one or more particular

Virginia PTA State Office

1027 WILMER AVENUE, RICHMOND, VA 23227
 matters" and "only business...which has been specified in the call of the meeting" as
per Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised by July 31, 2021.
• Creating a process that ensures board members have an opportunity to review all
meeting materials well in advance of the meetings.
• TJHSST PTSA should obtain the services of a certified parliamentarian to assist with
meeting notification requirements and to attend all properly called executive
committee, executive board and/or general membership meetings.

Because of the perceived damage to the value and goodwill of the PTA brand, Virginia PTA
makes these additional demands of TJHSST PTSA during its Probation Phase:

• TJHSST PTSA will not fill a position or remove any board members without Virginia
PTA approval during this Probation Phase. Any elected or appointed board
members who have been removed or resigned within the last 14 days must be
reinstated by July 31, 2021.
• The support team must receive all meeting notices and agendas at least one week in
advance of the meeting, as well as minutes and other meeting documents that will
be distributed at properly called meetings of the executive board, the executive
committee, and/or general membership meetings.
• At least two members of the support team must be present at all regular and special
executive committee, executive board and general membership meetings and must
be given voice at each of these meetings. Virginia PTA strongly recommends that
TJHSST PTA’s executive committee and executive board members heed the support
team’s guidance to avoid revocation.

TJHSST PTSA will remain in the Probation Phase of Non-Compliance until the sooner of the
following: January 30, 2022, or until compliance with the Standards of Affiliation is achieved or
until Virginia PTA informs TJHSST PTSA that the Probation Phase has ended.

Virginia PTA’s goal in this determination is to assist TJHSST PTSA executive committee and
members with addressing the ongoing issues and restore member trust. It is the best interest of us
all to work together to restore the value and goodwill associated with the PTA name and
trademark. Failure to do so will constitute harm to the PTA brand, which cannot be allowed.

Sincerely,

Pamela B. Croom
Virginia PTA State President

SENT VIA EMAIL and CERTIFIED MAIL

cc: Dr. Ann Bonitatibus, Principal

Dr. Fabio Zuluago, Assistant Superintendent, Region 2
Dr. Scott Brabrand, Superintendent

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