I haven't read your other post but I was a little dismayed when you stated that the PTO pres was on SBDM represented as PTO pres. I am not from Texas so your rules may be a little different. A parent serving on SBDM cannot work at the school as a sub. They may volunteer from time to time to keep out conflicts. We do combine our resources sometimes but the PTO is it's own entity and SBDM is a state regulated committee. How is this person able to serve on both? This sounds like it needs to go to the board of education.

The law requires adults, who hopefully have longer attention spans than school age children, so many breaks per a certian # of hours. Also with the rise of obecesity and diabeates in children not sink in to these people? Every little bit of exercise helps each child.

For the children's sake I hope you get this issue resolved.

How can your PTO president state that the PTO has no say in this decision when she sits on the "committee" as PTO president? Who else is on this "committee?" Is there any support for your position on this committee? If the PTO is going to take an "official" stand on this issue, which it seems to be doing since the president is on the committee, then in my opinion the PTO membership should vote on what that stand should be. Make sure your items get on the agenda for the next PTO meeting. Your by-laws should give you some idea how to get your issue on the agenda. Talk to other parents before the meeting. Get as many as you can to attend the next PTO meeting as well as the next meeting of the "site based committee".

In regards to your principal....did you say that you had a petition signed by 1200 people yesterday? Did all of those who signed this petition live in your school district? Why did the principal make the decision in the first place that the children in your school should only have 2 days of recess? What did the principal have to say about all of the research you brought to this meeting?

Bring this issue to the attention of your state legislator. Explain your school's policy and then cite the research you've done in support of daily recess. Unfortunately, it may take action by the law makers in Austin to make the changes. As it stands now, your principal has the final decision and even if you get the PTO to take a "official" stand in support of daily recess, the principal may not change the policy.

posted 11-05-2003 10:32 AM

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I'd like to thank each of you who have taken time to reply to me. Your advise and knowledge has been very useful and enlightening. I am getting a crash course (shame on me, I know) in regarding our local PTO and school's site based committee policies, and am still learning.

A small group of recess supporters address our schools site based committee yesterday. Placed on a 3 min. time limit we had prepared a package of information which included more than 13 nationally acclaimed org. and assoc.'s which have documented studies, recommendations, and positions papers in support of the importance of recess for elementary school aged children.

To my shock and dismay the PTO president (who had attacked me in her telephone response to my request to address the PTO on the same issue) was seated right next to the principal of the school. She is on the site based "decision-making" committee at our school in the role as PTO president. In our phone conversation, mentioned in 1st posted, I had told her we would be addressing the site based committee and invited her or any of the PTO board members to attend, or we would like to address their board at their net meeting....and that when she became so verbally defensive and rude stating to me that "PTO has nothing to do with the recess issue, and that I can address the PTO board, but will be wasting my time!". She didn't even have the decency to inform me she is on that school committee and would be in attendance.

After a incredible "run-a-round" yesterday I was able to obtain a copy of our PTO's bylaws. And they adhere to the Roberts Rule (revised).

Reading what I could find here and inline of the Roberts rule and the copy of their bylaws...I have a storm of concerns and questions I am hopeful that you all will be willing to advise/help me with. And I thank you in advance.

1.) Her rude address to my inquiry. Isn't there a specific section in the Roberts rule that states "Above all be COURTEOUS"?

2.) Because the bylaws Article II, section 1 states: “the organizations objective is... to promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school and community ...", then wouldn’t the issue we want to present indeed be an issue the PTO can and should be involved in? Would not the refusal of the President to do so, would be a violation of the very by laws they are sworn and empowered to enforce? (As DaveP pointed out in his reply)

3.) And as for her comment that this is a ISD policy and PTO can not be involved in mandated curriculum, I tried to inform her that this is NOT a mandated policy anywhere in Texas Education laws (We hope to eventually change that)… our local school board leaves the issue to the individual schools “decision making site-based committees”, and therefore this is NOT a political issue. I was actually directed by our Asst. Superintendent to address my concerns to this committee and our PTO from the beginning.

4.) Now, I have not purchased a copy of the revised Roberts Rule, yet, but it is my understanding that the Parliamentary rule. The president told me the PTO does not have anything to do with the issue, and I will be wasting my time… Her statement conveyed to me she is speaking for the board and a decision has already been made. Wouldn’t that be dictatorship? And how can you have both, a dictator and a Parliamentarian organization?

5.) Addressing the issue of the PTO not becoming advocates for any cause, well I misunderstand the word advocate almost as much as I misunderstand the role or relevance of our PTO: When children are the supposed priority, and the PTO has to promote the welfare of the children…then do they not become children’s advocates? And if not, when a child can neither vote nor speak for themselves and relies on the adults of the world to make and secure their rights….isn’t it all of our jobs to be advocates?

Well, having addressed the “site-based decision making committee” at our school, I have been informed by our principal that I misunderstand the role of that committee as well…and “they are simply an advisory committee to her and at the end of each day she makes the decisions regarding the children’s instructional day”…. I’ll admit that I must be more confused then I even dreamed. But something my dear old dad used to tell me has a resounding truth to it for me regarding our PTO President and school Principal ….and that is “If it smells bad, it is most probably rotten! And will without a doubt have ill effects”.

Down, but not for the count! ~ Sandy