SALISBURY — The Rowan County PTA kicked off another year with its first council meeting of the 2016-17 school year. PTA President Don Coggins said he’s looking forward to another good year of collaboration.

“We’re all about working together now,” he said.

Recently, the county-wide organization has streamlined sharing resources and information between individual school PTAs, bringing them up to speed and ensuring that schools are doing the right things for students.

The inter-PTA chatter between schools means that help is available if a particular school is struggling to meet a fundraising goal or to provide resources students need.

Speakers at the council meeting included Superintendent Dr. Lynn Moody, Executive Director of the Rowan Crosby Scholars Jennifer Canipe, Rowan-Salisbury Schools Risk Manager Sharon Gardener and Melissa Shoe with Prevent Child Abuse Rowan.

Speakers talked about the progress of the school system and its graduates, and encouraged further parent community involvement.

The Rowan-Salisbury PTA has several local sponsors, including Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, Woodleaf Lanes, Coldstone Creamery and Office Depot.

“We try to hit people who are civic minded,” Coggins said, “A lot of businesses want to give back but don’t know how.”

Donations from businesses often go to support county-wide scholarships that the organization doles out every year.

Over the years, Coggins said he felt like the Rowan-Salisbury PTA has built up a good group of people, and said he’s looking forward to the next year.

“We don’t have anybody that’s here for the wrong reasons,” he said, “Everyone’s here to help.”