You need to establish the offices your group wants to have in its organization and what responsibilites each office will have. After doing that I would send out a survey just to the staff at the school asking them what they would like to see your organiztion do, buy, be involved in, etc. I would also send out parent info forms home w/ each kid w/ ?'s about what they are willing to do (copy,bake,room mom, talents)then make a master list of the one's you get back and give to teacher's so they can start to utilize the parents that want to work. You need to decide on a calender of events for the entire school year- includinf all normal school evens and most importantly the PTO events. Lay out your year and all tasks you're thinking of accomplishing, appoint chair person's to take over certain events, order needed items,compare prices for things, get donations for events and put sign up sheets for all events out where parents can easily see them and sign up. Talk to your principal in private and of course have him/her at your meetings. Your principal may already have lots of ideas and expectations for your PTO, even if your principal doesn't you work together to find out what is best to do. The PTO today mag. is full of fundraising ideas- we have severa; of our own also- but that would be a longer email than this one- we have lots of fundraisers that require little or NO money to start- we have only been a PTO for 3 years, but have become very successful!Stacie
I would get all your members together. Do you have Sec, Parliamentarian, Treasurer, etc. My daughter's Preschool did a cookie dough fundraiser. Its rather easy. Just 4 flavors to choose from. Get a copy of generic bylaws and "tweak" them for your group. And prepare a budget. Someone may be able to get you a copy of theirs for an example. So you should have a general idea of how much money you need to operate, and how much $ you want to spend on your purchases, ie books, computer software, playground equipment, etc. That should help guide you in your fundraiser decision. Do you need $1k, or $10k? Find a fundraiser that will help you make your goal. You dont want to do alot of work for little pay, or end up with too much money and people are asking what will you do with it all?? Ask the teachers for a "wish list". Things that the school district does not or cannot pay for. Don't forget to plan Family Fun events! We are here to enhance and broaden the children's education, but we are also for Family togetherness.
Hope some of this helps!
Lisa @ Tx
I am a mother and newly elected president for our Child Development Center's PTO. I am looking for some guidance for starting out PTO from the ground level. We are a brand new school that has only been open for 2 months and I have never been involved in a PTO. Can you please send me any information, i.e. basic guidelines, good fundraising ideas, etc., that has worked for your group.
