Being a PTA/PTO of one would probably saddle you with more rules than you need as you most likely wouldn't be hosting the kinds of events that would require insurance coverage and/or the safety net that a pta/pto provides. I would just be a committee chair that does all the work -- that way you also don't have to disband with any other organization (like a state over-seeing body) when you move on to your next school (middle/high, etc...).

Thank you for the advice. i can always find the people to help in the end. It seems as though no one likes the planning and preparing process, which is fine by me. i feel as though i waste more time cordinating than getting done, so I tend to enjoy doing it on my own. We have been quite successful this year and accomplished a lot. The title of the organization and the rules seem to be a bit much for what we are doing

For such a small group, with such a low level of volunteerism (at this time), I would expect that you're far better off being a committee of the school, rather than an independent parent group. I would propose to your principal that you be named the school's Volunteer Coordinator or Parent Involvement Coordinator (or some such title). Write a job description and submit it to him/her for approval. You already said you view this as your full-time job. Why not formalize it that way? You would be in charge of building parent involvement and maybe doing some fundraising.

Money raised by the parent involvement committee would be held in a school bank account, but you would have oversight responsibility. However, no one person should have exclusive control over the money. You'll still need secondary approval from the principal or some other so-designated staff member.

Your first goal might be to get X families to attend the Family Reading Night, or some other low-cost, low-risk (to the families) event. Then hold another event, like Movie Night, that requires a couple more helpers. Ask face-to-face for an hour of someone's time to help out. From what' you've described, you biggest challenge is in building involvement and volunteerism. Start small, make it easy to get involved, and you'll see families starting to connectwith the school. Ulitimatley, you can't and shouldn't do all the work. If you want to build involvement, then it naturally follows that eventually you'll have helpers. Don't assume you'll always be a lone soldier, or you always will be. Good luck!

we currently run as PTO with 5 board members,myself, the school secretary, and 3 other faculty members. we are the only 5 that attend meetings, we are the only 5 who vote, but i am the only one who can do anything because of school hours and operations. Again, this is not a problem for me. i guess my real question is, if i am going to do it by myself, i really want full control. I am trying to figure out how to delicatly suggest the possibility that the PTO disband and just let me take care of it , the way i want to. The board let's me do what I want, but, why bother having meetings, and go through the voting process monthly, if I already know the outcome. I am trying to think of both sides in this, as far as, I understand the teachers don't have a lot of free time o ntheir hands, and i don't expect them to give all of thier free time to PTO. Don/t get me wrong, I am not trying to be a control freak, I just don't know if we have a need for a PTO, and a vote, and a board, like I said, if we all already know the outcome i n the end.

Will you have any members at all? If so then you'd need their input. If not, then go to your principal. Keep trying to involve a few more parents to help. I know its not easy. Good luck!

[ 04-01-2006, 07:52 AM: Message edited by: Renee S ]

My question to you PTO/PTA veterans is,
Is it possible to have and run a PTO/PTA of one member? We are very small and very rural, and voluntteing does not happen. I am more than willing to do ALL the work, I consider it my full time job, but if this is the case, do I have to go through a board, and need suggestions of how to deal with money issues.
Any suggestions?