I'm glad that your meeting went well. This was my second meeting as well. I feel very blessed that it went so well after the first meeting. Our school system has a bond issue on the November ballot. Our parent representative on the bond issue committee (she is also the one that attends school board meetings) presented the new ideas. Nothing went over very well because our elementary school is infact scheduled to be closed if the bond passes. It will also cost all of us approximately $1.00/day for the next 37 years. No one sees it passing, but there is much discussion just the same.

Betty did present answers to questions during our Oct. meeting. I verbally limited her time to ten minutes, and restated that the meeting would only last one hour (nothing really gets done after that first hour). Having a board meeting the Friday AM prior to our Monday PTO meeting helps get your board on the same page. Also, having spent the past five years in a local service league, I knew how to develope the agend to work in my favor. I buried her at the bottom so that everyone interested would have to stick around, and those wanting to avoid the heated discussion could excuse themselves after the budget for the year was voted on (I needed a quarum). I'll copy and past my agenda for you to get some ideas.

Best of luck - Tammy

Eastside PTO
Business Meeting Agenda
Monday, October 10, 2005

1. Call to Order
2. Please Circulate Sign In and Core Essentials Program Information
3. Thanks to our Hostess Aimee McIntyre and Lynette Wideman for providing parents with childcare
4. Approval of Last Month’s Minutes
5. Treasurer’s Report –
a. Current Balances
b. Potential Income for 2005 - 2006
6. Old Business
a. Major Budget Allocations – Vote on Budget
i. Playground Project
ii. Enrichment Programs
iii. Computers for Students
b. Bravo! To:
i. Lynette Wideman and her committee for wading though and balancing hundreds of fund raiser orders forms
ii. Chris Mattiford for handling orders for over 80 Spirit Shirt
iii. Diane Curry for arranging the PTO program “World Music”
iv. Mechelle Celie for helping with the MEAP treat purchases
v. Betty Arndt for promoting Walk to School Day and attending the School Board Meeting on our behalf
vi. Wesley United Methodist Church for donating a display case
vii. Wal-Mart, Martin’s, and Greater Niles Credit Union for sponsoring MEAP Treats
7. New Business – Committee Reports
a. North Pole Family Night Update – Darlene
b. Teacher’s Appreciation Luncheon – November 7 @ 3:30 in Gym
c. Core Essentials Program (FREE from Chick-Fil-A)
d. Financial Requests
e. Bond Issue Update – Betty
f. Other Business
8. Adjournment

*Treasurer, Lynette Wideman, will be available after the meeting to write reimbursement checks for your receipts. Thanks!

Mark Your Calendars
Next PTO Meeting November 14 at 3:45 – Bring Your N.P. Donations!
October 21 Picture Day - SMILE!
October 27 Fund Raiser Parent Pick-Up – Gym
November 4 Money Machine and Pizza Party - Gym
November 7 Teacher Appreciation Luncheon – 3:30 – 4:15 Gym

We just had our second meeting of the year and it went much smoother... We used the agenda, a timer, and a time keeper. We even limited the principal to 10 minutes.

I like the idea of a bouncer... maybe our security guard could do that.

The way the School Board runs their meeting is to offer time to speak and you must sign in, parents that don't sign in are asked to respect the other parents and the proceedurs that have been set before them.

At our PTO meetings, our agenda is at the door and issues that are going to take some time we ask that each parent only speak for 5 minutes each and use a timer. Oh yeah you bet I have a few parents but how fair is it that THEY are so much more important than the others in the room! Also a time limit helps A LOT! Last year an issue was dragging on and on and there was really no resolution and I made the comment " I really would like to tuck in my kiddos tonight and it's now 10:00. Can we please move on?!" A Dad stood up and told me to leave! Now we had the Athletic Director present and undercover secruity that kindly asked him to leave then followed him off the property. We were discussing issues surrounding the former Exe. Director and I know that was out of the ordinary but was so nice to have them there!!

You need to be firm, you need to be strong, you need to take control and you need a couple bouncers!! HA HAH AHAHA!! The bouncers are the easy part!

How does your principal handle parent complaints? Perhaps parents are behaving this way because they feel the PTO is the only place they might get support...just a thought to give enlightenment...

Just had an afterthought!! If you have to, adjourn the meeting early, until they can stick to the agenda. They will eventually get the idea if meetings end early because they are way off course. Robert's rules says to have someone say "return to order" to get back on track. Hope this helps.

Hi!!! I think the agenda is a great thing. Maybe tell everyone if there are concerns that are meant for the principal to answer then it will be done after the pto meeting is adjorned. Maybe an egg timer will help. We had to use one at soccer board meetings. Robert's rules are a great aide too. Good luck!!!!