We discussed our up coming carnival. Someone suggested giving each class $5 worth of tickets for the teacher to use in a "drawing" and giving kids who wouldn't normally come to the carnival a chance to come. The student who "won" would be given a gift certificate for $5 worth of tickets. This would cost the PTO $135. We are sitting on 5 grand right now. I honestly thought the others on the board were going to flip out!! One board member suggested giving 1 free ticket/student- mind you it takes 2 tickets to play most games, and for 600 kids, that would have been $150. It was cheaper in the long run to give the $5 worth.
I suggested keeping school supplies at the school for teachers to replinish the kids who needed them. Start out with $100-$200 worth at each school (there are 2 schools) and go in at the semester and re-stock them. I got shot down big time on that. I got a "We've tried to keep supplies, they (administration) don't want to give us the room." and " The churches in the area just did a school supply drive." I said "Well, forget it- so much for ideas." One lady said,"No- let's not forget it- why is there $5000 in the checking acct? What are you saving all that money for?? "I'm sure there is somewhere you could stash a plastic tote full of supplies!"
We never even GOT to the PTO/teacher relations!
I would like some more ideas for a survey. Any questions would be greatly appreciated. I would like some info. on making a mission statement.(Which we did have one lady ask what our mission statement was, and what are goals are- never did get an answer.We had one officer who said "Would you (to the other lady)like to be on a committee to get goals together? I personally thought that was the board's job) I also would like to hear some of YOUR goals for your PTO.
We went through something very similar to what you're going through about 6 years ago. At that time I was the 1st VP. The President and I asked the Principal if we could attend one of his faculty meetings. He wasn't to happy with this request but he did give in.
When went in and basically asked the teachers what we, as a group, could do to improve relations between the two groups. We took a lot of notes (and boy did they have a lot to say!)then we asked for 3 people to volunteer to sit with us and work things out. Between the PTA offciers, the Principal and the 3 teacher reps, we were able to work out a lot of the differences in no time at all.
Since then we get 100% teacher participation in our fundraisers,most of them show up to all of our functions and they all seem willing to bend over backwards for us because they now know we'll do the same for them when needed! We also do a wish list for all teachers at the end of the year. Some years they make out better than others because it depends on what's leftover from our budget.
I'm getting some great ideas, and if nothing else, some motivation!!
I really don't expect the teachers to come to every meeting, so if that is what I sounded like, I didn't mean to. I would just like to think that we had the support of the teachers. Like some never pass out the meeting notes to their classes. We do get alot of help from them at carnival time. I just with they would be more appreciative of what we do, for them AND for the kids.
I've got my "list" of things to present to the other officers this evening. One thing I'm going to bring up is our meetings. Sometimes our meetings last 2 hours, because the pres. gets off on the speel about "how busy she is, and how her job is, and well let me check my 'book' and gets her calander of her life, and 'see I don't have one day open'" Does everyone have an adjenda that their meetings are run on? (That's what I'm getting at??!! Ramble, Ramble!!)I think we need to run our meetings like a professional group, and not a bunch of high school sillies trying to run a pep rally! (no offense anyone!!)
I'm also to the point of frustration that if no one will step up and run for office and get new blood in there (myself included), that we divide up our money, pass it out to teachers and staff and say "forget it- PTO is no more". Am I wrong to feel that way??
I will remind you what I was reminded of when I said that same thing at a meeting, most teachers have to work second and even third jobs to survive. Having them required come to one event is one event more than most schools. When we have all school events, we try to let the school run those so we aren't responsible but offer support. This way teachers don't feel they are always being asked to do something for PTO. We really scaled back on our at school in the evening events because we had no staff support and it's worked in our favor. We have more support for our fundraisers and I don't get as many complaints when they are all asked to do the carnival, the one event we need everyone's help at. I know some staff try to get out of doing anything extra, but I think we all need to take a good look at it from their point of view. If you are still that frustrated at the end of the year, approach the idea of reducing funds to staff as a direct result of their decreased participation, but wear your running shoes to get away from the lynch mob!
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
We also have a problem with teacher participation at our school--in large part because of the administration and certain officers of PTO(not me thank goodness as this is my first year as VP). I would like to see more teachers at school events, but their contract says they only have to come to one PTO event each year and most fulfilled that at meet the teacher night.Most don't want to come to school at night, which I understand. On the other hand, if teachers want our support, shouldn't they be willing to support PTO? As far as I know, we have never done a teacher survey and I like that idea.
Martin, we did our first survey for staff last year and some of the questions included, how long have you been at the school, have you ever attended a PTO meeting, and what can our group do to try to meet your needs. If you put all the important stuff out there, I can tell you, not many will say "I've been here 10 years, never attened a meeting, but I need more discretionary funds and better gifts for Teacher Appreciation week." Honestly, I like doing surveys just to gauge what's on teachers' minds. Even if it is negative, it gives you a starting place for addressing issues and making things better.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
