Three years ago we had a huge conflict at our school and while the issues (and parents) are gone and mended what came from it was the HEART committee. This committee was soul purpose was to address an issues that many come about that the PTO can't or doesn't have the "power" to handle the way parents want. The HEART committee can talk to school admin or board to resolve issues that may arise. They had no budget, no need to fundraise, no events to plan for besides meetings, and every member was volunteering their time.

My point is, this type of committee maybe a good way for you to become or stay involved with the school and help with matters/issues that matter to the parents without the stress of a "parent group". Okay there may still be stress from tring to resolve issues but you would be helping in a different way.

Just a thought.......

Hi Lisa,
We did AR prizes 2 years ago( not last year for some reason).
Certain points levels were determined with different prizes for each level. One that was a huge hit was lunch off campus with the teacher. We had 5 students reach the level. They got to have lunch in a restaurant. Another was an in school, by invitation only dance. It was held during the last period of the day. All students (meeting at least the minimum levels) had their AR points shown off to the whole school--sheets with their names and points were posted in the cafeteria.The sheets were broken down by the various levels with that level prominantly displayed at the top of the page. Naturally pizza and ice cream parites were available for other levels--they are ALWAYS a huge hit.

I read that you are doing AR prizes. We are doing that for the first time next year. Would you tell me a little about it?

Sounds like there are to many roosters wanting to rule the roost.

I am at the point where I think our PTO should disband because of lack of particaption. It is year end burn out, sounds like your school is feeling it too.

We have a SBDM Council (site based decison making), it is made up of 2 parents, 3 staffers, and the principal. They make decisions on discipline, staff placement,they pay for field trips, attendance, AR prizes, and other things. Sometimes it can pick up things that we can't afford and vice versa. If a parent or staff member has a problem they can bring it before the council and it can be discussed and a solution decided on. So maybe it won't be so bad having a your school "staff club" won't be as bad as you feel. And if the parents stick together and act appropriately the staff will consider your feelings on issues that are brought up.

Our board, combined with our school council, decided to disband PTO due to lack of participation. (At least that's the reason I was given) We will continue to have many of the events that PTO did, but everything will go through the school council which is run by staff. There are only a handful of parents at these meetings in any given month. Granted, that's about all that showed up at PTO meetings unless there was a program they were interested in. They think that by getting rid of the idea that if you join PTO, you are committed to montly meetings, that this will bring more parents in. I know for a fact this is not the reason they dont' come. It's staff issues. We have had a pretty crappy board for the last few years. Plus we have had a lot of negative issues go on in our school. This all coincided with the arrival of our dictator(principal). She has put a strain on parent relations in the school. I don't think we will have adequate support until this person is gone. What I want to know is, is this staff run "club" acceptable? Can we allow the staff to dictate where the money will go and what events we do? I don't think we have the support to get PTO back though. Noone cares anymore. Some parents think that the reason they got rid of PTO is because several board members knew that they could not run again and they wanted to retain control which we know they will with this new club. That is the main reason we don't want to seee PTO go. The parents will have lost their voice. These board members were staff, all but 2 were last year. That was another problem, please read my message about how much $$ the kids get to know what I am referring to. Do I sit back, and try to make the best of it? I am willing to do so, but don't have much faith since the same people who ran PTO into the ground will undoubtably control this new club.I can bite my tongue and remain an active voice, but my patience wears very thing around these people. I don't want to take a break. I've already done that this year, and the whole thing went down the gutter. I will not let them get the best of me, because I know this is what they wanted. They have told me to my face that they will do everything they can to make sure I don't have anything to do with that school. It's all very petty, and I take it so that I don't stoop to their level. But since I do take it, and don't say anything, I am made out to be te bad guy. <sigh> Part of me wants to tell them to kiss my bootie, but the stronger part of me says that there is no way on this earth that they can make me stop loving those kids and trying to do what is right for them. WHAT DO I DO?!?!?!?!?!