Jennifer- I would start off talking to your prinicpal about sending home flyer, setting up a meeting and seeing how much interest there is. Like Phil said your first year should be about getting parents, setting goals, a mission for the group. If you get little feedback just keep trying, I have a theory that I tell new officers and groups trying to get started.
You need to treat your group like a business, you need to market, market, market. Develope a cute name and a logo. That logo goes on anything and everything that gets sent from that group or about that group. Talk to your prinicpal about having a regular columm in your school newsletter, have tables with info at every school event (concerts, open house, activites, etc) The more your families see that logo and name then you will get more interest. Think about how you see the golden arches and without one word you know it is Mc Donalds'!
MARKET MARKET MARKET!!!
Try a survey about what the teachers would like to see in a pto (trust me good relation builder) be up front no money but would like to help them.
For reference my first meeting had 5 people (January 2002) My last meeting of that year had 15(five staff), last month we had 33... we have over 70 parents who help with our events! it takes time, positive attitude. After you have a group going for a year then consider the bylaws, 501c, and all of that stuff. You will need a ein number for banking, easy thing to get! Take it one day, one step at a time. Keep reading this forum there is alot of stuff in here that has helped me become the leader I have, and remember that failing to continue to learn means that your group stops growing!
I am great believer in starting small and building on success.
First you need to decide why you want this organization - what goals you have. You imply that all you are looking for is better communication between the school and the parents. This is a very worth goal.
As Renee S. suggested, talk to the principal and see if s/he is willing to host a regularly scheduled meeting with parents (1X/month?, once every other month?). Then send out a flyer and see who shows up. This will be the core group.
Probably for the rest of the year, don't even think of things like fundraisers, EINs, or by-laws. Instead, talk to your core group and try to get other parents involved. Collectively try to figure out what you want to accomplish. If you want ot meet with the principal to discuss issues on a regular basis and that's all - that's fine. But eventually you will agree you want to do more. At that point you can start creating by-laws and holding elections and fundraising.
I would start with the principal then the teachers. If they are for it, then send out a flyer asking for members & set an informal meeting. See who would like to be officers.Set another meeting for elections. Then decide if you want to go pto or pta (they ask for yearly dues per member. Then start on your by-laws. I recommend doing this first then going for your ein# & 501(c)3 status.
Hello! I am the parent of a 1st and 2nd grader, my children attend a very small rural school. Since my oldest started Kindergarten I have been asking if there was a PTO I could join. Neighboring communities have triving PTO's, but the answer has always been that they have tried in the past and can't get any parents to join. I have found myself more and more frustrated with lack of communication between school and home, and having no voice in changes that impact my children. I am looking for help in starting a PTO and keeping it going. I am a working mom and I have been talking to other parents trying to get more people interested. Honestly I am not sure where to start. I have never attempted to start anything like this and would really appreciate any help you could offer. I have been reading as much as I can off this website, but don't know how to start from the ground up.
Thank you for any advice you can offer!!
