Right now to answer how our parent board works is kind a hard not to just say "Very hard!". As a K-12 school, we are considered as having three schools within one, so we have three Principals and are currently hiring a Executive Director or Superintendent. The reason we had a Ex. Dir. as that is the education our founder had and she didn't have the qualifications to be a Super. Anyway, our school had it's our Board too that was made up of staff, now that we have changed that, this new Board will ask that our new Ex. Dir. will report to them and the Principlas will report to the Director.
I would really hate to be told that
this principal will deal with the PTO, you know as if we are
that much of a pain! I would rather work with the Director and Principals AND report to the Board. Does that make sense? In my thinking, the parents that may begin their involvment with the PTO may become School Board members down the road. It worked for our president (he is one of the new board members). I have (what we joke about) a 5year plan (my youngest will be starting school and my oldest will be graduating and I will have one starting middle school- I just want everone in school to take on something like this).
Basically, the Board does what School Boards do. They look at the budgets, discuss personel issues, decisions on these matters, we need a new roof- building a garage to house fifteen school buses- decisions about these matters; they are running the school through the eyes and ears of our terrific staff. The paperwork alone that they carry in after a three hour executive session is incredible! Also, we have always had two parent reps that served with three Admin staff that made up our school board.
I was worried about this and was wondering how five parents (four with full time jobs AND families) could make this work but have learned a lot from them! The level of honesty that our former Prez and I share really helped here. I had mentioned my interest in running and he didn't talk me out of it but encouraged me to run for President because I am just the "gal" the PTO needs this year with all the changes. between you and me (HA!) he just wanted me to stay with the PTO so he can give me a hard time!
We've already been talking about changes in fundraising! Our PTO brings in less that $4000 a year, yes there were three zeros! With the new Board, the PTO can take a more active roll than the staff doing all the work. YES school staff handle the school's fundraising!
Sorry...I got off track there. At the end of the day, our school, charter school, is run by three Principals, an Exeutive Director (Superintent) and the five parent School Board that would be the top of the org. chart. We (the PTO) are defintly there to support the school, I just want to know were we fit in and don't....excuse me...WON'T be the best kept secret anymore and know the Board will back me on this one!!!
