It used to be ran by the parents. Then parental involvement diminished and the TEACHERS ran the PTO because they didn't want the students to do without. A couple years ago, the principal approached a mom and asked her to start the PTO again. Parental involvement is zilch ~ there are maybe 25 members, and 6 attend meetings (of the 6, that includes the principal and 2 teachers, the PTO Pres, her mom and I). The pres and her mom have done everything for the past 2 yrs. Bake sells ~ they fronted the money for supplies, baked and sold; soup suppers ~ they prepare, cook, sell and clean up. The only fundraiser they get any help with is the carnival (and that's maybe 12 parents).
So here I come in. My daughter started kindergarten this year and I couldn't wait to get into PTO. I was even calling the principal the first week of school asking her who to contact and when the first meeting was, etc.
My problem comes in where I tell her I will help w/ anything she needs, just call me and let me know when and where and what. And she doesn't. I called her today to offer help cutting Box Tops to their specific guidelines and she said I just do them on the weekends. I asked about the bake sale which is Tuesday. I asked about the soup supper which is in 2 weeks. I want to help out. I want to be active in the PTO. Her response is, "If you want to help you can." I think she has gotten so used to doing everything by herself that she's given up asking for help because she always gets rejection.
Our school is a lower poverty level than most in the district (lower and middle class but mostly lower class). A lot of the moms don't work, but also don't see that the school activities need help.
I mentioned that I was trying to think of ways that we could boost parental involvement and I got the reply, "We have tried" with a chuckle.
I don't want to come off the wrong way, but at the same time I can clearly see the PTO needs help. This is one lady who is doing everything: Pres, Sec, Treas, plus all "committee's".
