Again, thanks so much! The catch: we are a charter school. We can only turn to ourselves so to speak. But I am starting to understand how things should/could fall into place to be functional.
Thanks again.
"The organization shall work with the schools and community to provide quality education for all children and youth and shall seek to participate in the decision-making policies establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to executive committees of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities."
With respect to advocacy and the PTA, the key words here are "shall seek to participate". It sounds like you are 'seeking' and not getting anywhere.
Our district has a Parent/Student/Teacher group that meets once a month with the District Superintendent. It's an informal setting with all schools represented by those who choose to volunteer. It's a way to discuss concerns or make suggestions directly with the superintendent. As all schools are represented, there is a broad base inwhich to compare ideas and learn how those ideas may benefit each school prior to any "official" processes or district/school changes.
This may be a good suggestion to your district superintendent. Ask for a volunteer advisory committee to be created. It may decamp the opposing camps and foster a sense of community and open dialog.
Thanks so much for shedding some light on what I am trying to do. You are right, I feel some advocacy would not be a bad thing. The PTA does advocacy and says the PTA should be part of policy-making. If the PTA has that as one of it's mission and it has been around for 100 years I am not the only one thinking that way!
I guess there are parts of the school not working so to speak and I was hoping to have the PTO fill that need. I am btw a rock and a hard space. The parents are setting up camps.
The problem with the PTO becoming an advocacy group, is that advocacy generally means there is something to support with opposing opinions. Can you do that and represent 100% of the school? To me, that's different group than the traditional PTO which normally exists to coordinate volunteers, encourage parent and community involvement, and enhance school programs.
The is no cookie cutter definition for PTO, so theoretically it can be whatever the organizers choose it to be. But you'd want to make sure the different aspects of your group don't serve cross-purposes. And you might consider a different name/acronym to help differentiate it from the typical expectations.
I can certainly understand your frustration. Your principal sounds like a gatekeeper who doesn't let much happen without her. Perhaps those who have worked with (or around) a difficult principal can offer more advice here. Good luck to you.
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"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the true perfection of one's character."
We do not have a parent-teacher advisory committee. I have gone to the board with issues and hit a dead end, basically the President just defers the issue back to the Principal (where I already started!) and that is the end of it.
I guess I feel a PTO can be more than a service group. A place for the exchange of ideas, etc. Esp. since there does not really seem to be a structure for discussion otherwise at our school btw parents and teachers or just parents.
