DEMOPOLIS-The Demopolis City School system has seen steady growth in their Parent Teacher Association over the last year. This is mostly due to a proactive approach to expand membership.

This year the school system is offering a new twist, which has helped to double membership. Barbara Hill, community Education Director, said the schools are offering parents who participate a chance to become involved in their children’s education and save money. Hill said the new program has generated a lot of success, but they would like to see even more.

“We are doing a membership card for the PTA and through our own initiation of doing it we already have over 200 members,” Hills said. “We have about 210 so far and last year we had 99. Our goal is to have 400 members.”

Participating businesses have been a huge boost to the program according to Hill. She added they were making it very easy for people to join.

“Twenty merchants in town have given us a discount card,” Hill said. “The cards are for anyone who wants to be a member and they are also open to anyone who would like to call in. If they want to cal we can send them a bill and they will get the card.”

Hill said they were very pleased with the positive reaction they have received.

“We are really proud of this because we feel like the merchants have really gone all out,” Hill said. “They have really helped us out a lot.”

The card can save shoppers over $500 at participating businesses. So far, Hoagie Hut (buy one sub get the second half price), Smokin’ Jacks (five percent off total ticket), Perfect Touch (10 percent off any single purchase one time), Newton Tires (five percent off all tires and repairs), Omni Sports (10 percent off all purchases), Colonnade (10 percent off products and gifts), Main Moon Chinese Restaurant (buy one combo get the second half price), Lane’s Tire II (five percent off all purchases), Hair Hut (10 percent off all hair products), Designer Showcase (10 percent off all items not on sale), The Mustard Seed (10 percent off all items not on sale), Plantation Gallery (10 percent off all gifts and custom framing), The Gold Mine (10 percent off all purchases), Colony (20 percent off all color copies), Lily White Cleaners (10 percent off cleaning), Athlete’s Foot ($10 off shoes $50 or more two times), Greg’s Detail and Car Wash ($2 off car wash two times), Sonic (Buy one Sonic Burger get one free), The Arbor (10 percent off all candles and jewelry), and Lindsey’s (15 percent off all regular merchandise).

Members of the PTA Board for 2005 include Sheri Jones, secretary, Emily Low, second vice president and Hospitality, Yanceena Perry, President and Membership Chair, Stacey Fradey, Vice President and Fundraiser Chair, Traci Spiller, Treasurer. The membership Committee consists of Perry and Hill.

Hill said the card itself is free to members. To join the Demopolis PTA please call 289-3951. Membership forms can be obtained in the offices of Westside and U.S. Jones Elementary Schools.

The PTA already has several projects in the works. PTA President Yanceena Perry said they are already raising money for schools and approaching their next meeting.

“Our fundraiser ends on Sept. 19,” Perry said. “Our next meeting will be Tuesday Sept. 20 and our membership drive is through Sept. 30.”

Students from Westside and U.S. Jones have also stayed busy collecting materials for hurricane evacuees. Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall two weeks ago the schools student population has grown by 46 students giving them a first hand look at the impact of the storm.

Since that time the school has collected three truckloads of donated materials.