I need some advice as I'm not sure what to do at this point. Any input would be greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance.
Last fall meetings were being held between our elementary principal, the superintendant, the head of elem. ed. and two moms (that represented our PTO as well as the rest of us). The topic was basically how we go about getting the parents in the classroom/school more in spite of heightened security measures. We are a suburban school with few security issues. However, the principal was changing things up a bit because of 9/11. That is fine. We all understood that. With that came less parents in the classrooms and the secretaries doing all of the running to the classrooms with cupcakes for birthdays, forgotten homework/lunch money and heavy musical instruments.
Right before Christmas in the midst of all these talks our principal passed away. We were given an interim principal and all talks were put on hold at the teachers' request for time to heal. We were given a new principal in April and she came with her own opinions and ideas which were to be expected.
However...she has further shut the parents out of the school and has stated that they are not a part of the school community. We, as parents, are more of a liability than an assett. This has brought outrage from the parents.
We are one of nine elem. schools in the district and we have the highest attendance at PTO meetings out of all nine schools. We are involved with our children and are trying to raise them right. We want to be there NOW to learn who their friends are, what their interests are etc. so when they reach middle school and high school and start to shut us out we already have an idea about these things. This is being taken away from us. 90% of the activities that go on in school that would include parent involvement have been cancelled.
I am the volunteer coordinator amongst other things at the school. After speaking with many parents who are aware of the worsening situation I have been told not to call them for help because if the administration doesn't want them in the school they won't go in. This puts me in a very tight spot and I don't know what to do.
