Anec-datally this rings true to me. I think in wealthier neighborhoods there is also a lot more competitiveness for PTA and school board seats from parents who are very highly credentialed (i.e. MBA, former product managers, lawyers) that have electively taken time off/early retirement to have more quality time with their kids. There's some sort of institutional knowledge coming from the business world on how to run effective meetings, run a fundraiser, etc.
On the flip side, I have yet to see a really well-functioning PTA. Usually because it's a bunch of hyper competitive MBAs, CEOs, and lawyers who adore parliamentarian ceremony and only secondarily have any interest in marshaling resources in support of students.
I think it might actually work better if it were just properly educated average people running that show.
Agree! It can become a but political. It should be noted though that while that is less than perfect...
What I've observed in less well off neighborhoods is that in particular the school board becomes populated with professional administrators. Then the administrators get familiar with the process for procurement for supplies, facilities and contracted work and start getting cozy with the local providers of those services. And things start going down hill and there is little in the way of oversight since most parents/voters are too busy juggling multiple jobs, etc.
