Question: Multiple PTO's with Multiple Elementary Schools

We are a school district of about 1800 Elementary (grades K-6) students with all 4 schools being located on the same campus. We have 4 separate PTO's and are wondering how other schools setup similar do it??? We have a K-1st, 2nd/3rd, 4th/5th and 6th building. It is impossible for parents with students in more than one school (which is very common) to help out and be involved in PTO in more than one school. 4 separate meetings each month along with each school needs a full PTO board. Curious to find out if other schools setup like this do separate or one joint PTO. Please provide either way and how you do it so it seems to work for your schools and families. "

Asked by summer9145

Answers:

Advice from PTO Today

Rose H writes:
Hi summer9145,
Can see how this is a challenge. Would like to post this on Facebook so our community there can weigh in.

Rose

Advice from PTO Today

Rose H writes:
Hi summer9145,
Can see how this is a challenge. Would like to post this on Facebook so our community there can weigh in.

Rose

Community Advice

summer9145 writes:
Rose C yes please I would love to get feedback on this issue please feel free to post to the Facebook page

Advice from PTO Today

Craig writes:
It's not unusual to have one umbrella PTO, particularly when the schools are all on the same campus. In that case, you would have a rep or coordinating committee for each school, reporting back to the larger group. The challenge is that it can be hard to balance four different schools. On the other hand, you can better share resources and also make sure each school gets a more equal share of attention.

We've seen this go both ways -- PTOs consolidating for the reasons you mentioned, and also PTOs breaking into smaller groups to serve schools individually. Often that's because of a feeling that people want to volunteer for and fundraise for their own kids' school and not have to share resources with other schools they feel little attachment to.