This year, our pto meetings are still just a few (maybe 3) parents, 2 teachers and us committee members BUT, it's a start and our plan is to start pumping the teachers back up. Our old principal sucked all the fun out of them and made teaching a very stressing job at our school.
SO we figure, if we pump up the teachers and get them excited, they'll pass that on to their students who will in turn, go home and get their parents excited.
With all the money we've raised this year, we've doubled the budget for our spring picnic, we BBQ'd chicken and pork steaks for lunch for the teachers for "I tried my best on the test" last week, and instead of just doing a luncheon and giving them a calendar refill for next year, we've got a surprise a day for them during teacher appreciation week in May.
We also sent out a survey today to all the parents and teachers asking for their opinion. We told of what we've done and asked what they thought of it and also offered suggestions for different things to do next year and asked them to circle what they like and if they have any suggestions of their own.
It's a start to let them know that we ARE interested in their opinion and we understand that many work full time jobs and don't have a lot of spare time to volunteer so this is a way they CAN have a voice.
It's amazing me to me how common this problem is. Is this type of behavior really that ingrained in human nature? Our board is exactly the same way, right down to the board "switching" positions. We've managed to oust most of them this year, by "barging" in and becoming involved (we signed up for the nomination committee) despite their best efforts to discourage us. All it takes is a couple of people, them getting THEIR friends involved, and making sure things like bylaws are adhered to, and making a stink if they're not. Once you realize you actually CAN and DO have a say in what the group's destiny is, the energy naturally comes from that. I know in our case it has, and now we're just hoping the "new" board doesn't succomb to pressure from the remnants of the "old guard."
My suggestion would be to run for President yourself and gather up all the other positive parents you can find to "re-energize" your parent group!!!
Our school used to be very similiar. We had a group of parents who would just "switch" their titles every year. A few of the parents have left the school and this year, we've not only raised almost twice as much money as ever, but we've done so much more and the kids and parents are having fun fun fun.
It's also helping us that we have a new principal this year as well and she has brought in her own ideas that have been fun.
Anyway, take the first step and RUN FOR PRESIDENT!!!
I am fairly new to PTO, but it seems like our group is very stuck in their ways. They discourage new ideas, and new members. Every time I bring up a new idea, I am told we have always done it this way. Any ideas to rejuvinate our group next year? We have a very uninvolved president who does not welcome any ideas from anyone. We have very little parent involvement as it is, but as a group we don't try to get them involved. Many parents have expressed night meeting would be welcomed so that working parents could be involved. When I brought this up I was told nobody would come, and it would be a waste of time. Board meetings are held during the day, but I don't understand why we can't have general meeting once a month at night. If we got 10 parents there I think it would be worth it, and bring some new energy into our group. Any advice is welcomed!
