Susan, I still don't understand how you would "dissolve the council" The council is an entity for your state. Your PTAs could dissolve themselves but the council would remain. I also don't understand the motivation behind a council trying to dissolve all of the units... Did you have an overwhelming outpouring from your individual units that made them feel as though PTA was bad? and if so, why would they then vote to remain PTA or to abstain from the vote. Seems to me that if they were really unhappy with PTA then the vote would have taken them away from it. Is it more likely that a few people holding council positions had a personal reason for wanting these units to dissolve? I guess I'm trying to understand the motivation behind it. Especially since the units and the council now remains primarily intact.
I guess the issue Casey refers to is, if all of the groups were united in being PTAs and now they are not, then there is some division. Because I have seen a meeting where there are passionate people involved on both sides and it's hard to believe that some division doesn't exist as a result. The only way that there wouldn't be division is if the people who wanted a PTO were okay with being a PTA and if so, it wouldn't have come to a vote in the first place. Even your own statement is contradictory. First you state there is no division, no fighting but then you say there is no unity with the people who don't like the idea of having to vote. If they don't like it, they aren't happy right? Then is there not people that are happy with the result, two seperate opinions? seperate=division. Now, if everyone is now willing to let it go, then maybe you really can get back to the business of working for our children.
And another thing about the council itself, why would anyone who doesn't believe in what PTA is doing, want to hold a council position in the first place? It is not run out of the school so you wouldn't be doing it to personally affect your own child's school. The council IS an extension of state and as a council President, I do it because I believe in what PTA is doing and because I believe that I will be helping many children outside of my own school but why hold the position just to try to dissolve it. If you are on the council, and you don't like what PTA is doing, step down. Sounds like a personal thing against PTA in general rather than thinking about the children. If it was the council dues, then change them. The council decides how and what they will charge. If you think it's too much, change it.
It just doesn't make sense...

Originally posted by Casey Magnuson:
Well, our PTA Council local units took their votes, and out of our schools, 28, including the cluster that sends the MOST money of anyone in the district to PTA, voted to stay PTA. The remainder either abstained, were not eligible to vote, announced the wrong answer (the question was slightly confusing), or voted to go independent. Definately a majority for staying PTA. Immediately afterwards, the Council President said the Council would remain a PTA Council (although it would have anyway) and any local unit that voted to go PTO could go back and revote for PTA if they wanted to. A few local units said they were probably going to do just that.
During the same meeting, the Council announced the PTO schools were also going to be taken care of by the PTA Council, a semi-large uproar happened. One person even asked why the PTA's should help the PTO's. It was like the PTO's would get all the benefits- training and workshops, without having to pay dues to PTA.
This was my biggest problem with this whole thing- our school district is now split up and we are fighting each other. Before we had unity-now there will be fighting and hurt feelings.

I'm actually a member of the Council that Casey is referring to and she can't be more wrong about the circumstances. Our district is not divided, there is no fighting. The only place there is no unity is those who did not like the idea of taking a vote to either remain PTA or go Independent. No one was forced to take a vote, in fact there were quite a few that did not. As Tim so nicely stated, aren't we here for the children no matter what our group is called. Let's get back to why we're doing this and stop being concerned about ourselves and do what's best for the kids!

Hi Michelle B.-

Thanks for the thorough explanation. I too, think this would be a good thing. It looks like some people spent considerable time putting this well thought out plan into place.

I did check out your policy plan and I'm impressed.

Your district's web site is MUCH easier to navigate and much more user-friendly than our district's. I get so frustrated trying to find info. on our district's web site. I think it's high time someone redesign and revamp our district's web site...it's like trying to travel thru a maze, only to find out you have reached a dead end and you need to find your way back out and try a different route!

Hi Pearlie, you've got some very good questions. Our parent involvement policy was worked on primarily with two past state PTA Presidents and the position of coordinator has been a fragile position. They were able to fight to have the position at all. The position existed in a program put on by the district but every time the budget came up, so did the idea of cutting it and every time, the PTAs were rallied to support the position and fight for its existence. It never got cut but not because they didn't want to. This is the first year the position exists IN the district. Another major win. It has solidified its existence to some extent.
She does coordinate with all of the parent groups in the district and maintains a database where parent bulletins are sent out monthly and sometimes more often. When a PTA issue does arise, she will often have them contact me and will refer them to the new council President when I finish my term. She organized the first Parent Leader meeting where all were invited and this is the second year this has happened.
I am in Nevada but so far, it is only our school district in the state. Clark county is working on doing the same thing now based on our model.
As a council, I have 28 units in my council, all but four in my district. The others are in Lyon county. We get a minimal turnout at council meetings but I have worked with every single unit at some time or another. Some of them more than others. I get contacted by phone and e-mail and at leadership training, only two schools didn't attend. I am supposed to be assisted by a region director but our current one has been very busy with work for the last year and a half, otherwise, we would also be spending more time talking to the non-PTA schools.
I think that what Tim is talking about is basically what the scouts do, a round table. Where all groups are invited to come together and share ideas. It could be a lot of work to coordinate and you would have to have contacts at each of the schools but it could be a good thing. The ideal situation would be to have the paid district employee put it together on a monthly basis.
Anyhow, I hope I answered some of your questions. If you are interested in our Parent Involvement policy, you can view it at
www.washoe.k12.nv.us/parents/parentinvolve/

Hi Tim-

I think I'll call the district's Volunteer Coordinator and find out for myself some more feasible information on this and to see if this has ever been attempted before.

I think sometimes the PTOs/PTAs get so wrapped up in their own schools that they forget some type of district council/occasional meeting, could be beneficial to all of them.

Hi Pearlie -

I can't imagine why your paid Volunteer Coordinator *wouldn't* help PTAs and PTOs. Heck, how better to do her job that to work with the most obvious source for (and connection to) volunteers? I imagine that part of her job description is to increase the number of volunteers in the district. Well, assisting the effectiveness of the parent groups in the district is agreat way to do that. As a PTO officer, go have a talk with her. Spin it that you'd like to help her do her job by helping her connect with PTOs and PTAs.

As for the council idea, it doesn't have to be highly officious or even highly, highly organized. And it can be a nice tool. How about just sending a note out (or perhaps having your Volunteer Coordiantor help you) to all the presidents at the 30 elementarys, inviting them over to your school for coffee some morning? Introduce it as a chance for everyone to share their best ideas of what's working in their groups and to meet some other officers. Nothing else.

And if folks like it, do it again the next quarter. In my experience that's the most common start for district councils or president's committees.

Tim