After years of trying to make decisions, last year, our school, along with 3 other elementary schools were closed and schools were combined. Our PTO had nothing to do with mailouts regarding the closings. When the buzz first began, we had a parent or two who were "in the know" and would email the rest of us with information, but we were never swayed one way or the other.
In my opinion the PTO as a whole should have nothing to do with this. It is not the PTo's job to fund the opinions of some of the parents. The parents who want to wage this battle need their own group to do so. If PTO members want to be part of this other group that is fine, but the two groups should remain seperate.
Let me start by saying I love this forum! As a new PTO president I find it very informative. I have a new dilema I'm hoping you can give your insight on.
Our school board has all but said it is going to close our elementary school next year. In these tough times the district needs to do something and after months of researching etc this is the decision they have come to. My question is, should the PTO be funding letters to parents and supporting those teachers and parents that are opposing the move? In my opinion the conflict has gotten out of hand and the parents are threatening to slash tires, picket the school board meetings and during the school board meetings they are very loud etc. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate those that voice their opinions however I do not agree with yelling and then running out of the room. These parents have lost all sense of reason. At our last PTO meeting the group decided to mail a letter written by parents out to the residence, and the PTO funded the mailing. They also want to put a petition out at our Harvestfest on Friday night..again, I don't think the PTO should be funding this.
Any thoughts on this? Is it the PTO's job to support this type of thing?? My concern is that the decision is pretty much made and I don't think that infecting the children with these negative attitudes it going to help them adjust to their new school in the fall. I believe it would be better to put a positive spin on it and encourage that the move will be ok.
