Originally posted by amthrof2: Writing Bylaws is very easy. I could e-mail you ours and another school's. There are even examples here you can access. We have only one teacher that comes to our meetings (typically only our night meetings - every other month). Although we did have a wonderful (biting my tongue)turn out last month of teachers coming in to vote for the kindergarten teacher that was running for Pres. (see earlier entry). So be careful what you wish for.
As for getting more parents involved, maybe you need to turn your attentions to asking directly for assistance in a newsletter. I started one this year and the reaction was great. You could keep people updated and even ask specifically for things that you need (inquire if any parent owns or works for a print shop that would be willing to print the newsletter for free, ask for parents with accounting skills to donate their time to balancing or auditing your books, you could even put out a questionnaire asking for input or programs and ask if they will provide their name and number so they can be contacted).
Also, don't wait to hear from anyone. Contact them when you need help or call those that give their phone number the night before a meeting reminding them to attend.
Our group has about 12 hard working parents/grandparents. Yes, grandparents. You would be surprised how much they are willing to help at a book sale or Santa Secret Shop.
Someone else also suggested to have a PTO table set up at the Kindergarten Round up or at the open house.
Most important is to let people know where the money they helped raised went. Newsletters saying that x amount of money was provided for y by the PTO lets parents know exactly where their donations went. Maybe the more they know the more they will be willing to become involved.
I would love any help you could give. Trying to start a PTO from scratch and have no clue.
Thanks in advance. email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Something we don't know here is how the PTO has (or hasn't) been in the past and if the principal is really just trying to get things back to order. Heck, if she wants her cake and eat it too, give her a fork!!! OH come on, that was funny! Now really, I haven't heard of this but I also haven't been in a school with a fresh principal that would be so eager to do this sort of thing.
There is really nothing stopping you from volunteering on one of the committees and just seeing what "Rome" is like. That's how I started.
ps Our money is kept by the school in an account at the district. We submit our deposits and reciepts and they give us a copy of our statement every month. If ANYONE wanted $5 it's a process and impossible to steal from us. We thank our principal for this (on good days and bad )
Writing Bylaws is very easy. I could e-mail you ours and another school's. There are even examples here you can access. We have only one teacher that comes to our meetings (typically only our night meetings - every other month). Although we did have a wonderful (biting my tongue)turn out last month of teachers coming in to vote for the kindergarten teacher that was running for Pres. (see earlier entry). So be careful what you wish for.
As for getting more parents involved, maybe you need to turn your attentions to asking directly for assistance in a newsletter. I started one this year and the reaction was great. You could keep people updated and even ask specifically for things that you need (inquire if any parent owns or works for a print shop that would be willing to print the newsletter for free, ask for parents with accounting skills to donate their time to balancing or auditing your books, you could even put out a questionnaire asking for input or programs and ask if they will provide their name and number so they can be contacted).
Also, don't wait to hear from anyone. Contact them when you need help or call those that give their phone number the night before a meeting reminding them to attend.
Our group has about 12 hard working parents/grandparents. Yes, grandparents. You would be surprised how much they are willing to help at a book sale or Santa Secret Shop.
Someone else also suggested to have a PTO table set up at the Kindergarten Round up or at the open house.
Most important is to let people know where the money they helped raised went. Newsletters saying that x amount of money was provided for y by the PTO lets parents know exactly where their donations went. Maybe the more they know the more they will be willing to become involved.
I think part of our problem is we DON'T have by-laws or if we do I have never seen them and don't know what the laws say. We don't have any teachers as part of our group ... even those with kids in the school. We have a VERY small turn out at meetings, it's usually 4 of us plus our principal that's why she gets what she wants no one wants to stand up against her. I would love to have more parents involved so that way majority could rule. I have so many ideas but they are not anywhere close to what they are use to here at this school. We are in a some what small town under 5000 people and I need to know how to get more parents to the meetings. We didn't even vote this year on our board for next year, it was just kinda given to someone. I don't even think you could call it an ex-board, we have the president, and a treasure for next year and 3 other moms willing to help out where needed. We need ways to get more people involved any help anyone can offer would be WONDERFUL
Our principal has not eliminated our Exec. Board but it does appear that at the last general meeting (at which the elections were held for the upcoming school year) she and a few other staff members stuffed the meeting. Out of 24 teachers all but 3 were present to vote and out of the 5 people up for a position 3 were school personel. Those 3 were elected to their nominated positions (kindergarten teacher-no child in school, as Pres., Lunch Lady-child in school, as V.P., Secretary of the school-child in school, as Treasurer, and a mom as Secretary). Just to make sure those staff members were voted in, the janitors were allowed to vote (okayed by the prinicpal).
In our district the school board has no guidelines as to how a PTO can or should function. It makes for some frustrating times due to the fact our prinicpal will make demands and then act as our superior (parent to the parents) when things do not go the way she requests them to.
Now she doesn't need to because she can ask her employees to do as she asks. They more than likely will do to pressure (real or assumed).
Currently, I am drafting changes to our bylaws. Hopefully the changes will show the principal exactly how I and other parents feel. Such as, making it possible for only one staff member to be on the Exec. Board at one time and that position shall not be that of Treasurer. Too many pressures to meet the principals expectations of donations to the school.
Remember, the principal can say no to something, but if you feel that it would be a positive program you can always present the proposal to the school Board. If it requires use of the school you can submit your permit directly if the principal turns you down. There are ways but if you go over the prinicpal's head too often then it will be more and more difficult to do other things (ex: pass out catalogs for fund raisers, have flyers go home with the children.) Retaliation can come in many forms.
I'm dealing with a principal that thinks everything needs to be her way. We wanted to do a fundraiser with a prize program and I thought the lady was going to go off the deep end. She yelled like she was talking to her own children. I have never been treated like that by another adult in my life.
We have a VERY small turn out at meeting and I was wondering how much say the pricipal has? Do they have the "Final" say or is the group that chooses. We have no by-laws and we are a "Parents Group" not a PTO or a PTA there for I'm thinking that she shouldn't have the say. With out our group she wouldn't have 1/2 the things she has for the school. Is there anyone else out there dealing with anything like this and if so what do you do?? HELP
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