Is your new group a PTO or a PTA? You referred to it as PTA 5 times, so I am guessing that it is. If it is a PTA, Michelle is your expert. It doesn't sound right to me, but every group is different and it may be the way things are done. Who knows? Maybe it's a group of 10 making those decisions. My biggest question is "Have you talked to them?" followed by "Have you offered your services?". Until you talk to them there really isn't anything you can do. Lots of folks didn't like the way our group was run 3 years ago when I was pres, but this year I was reelected because it turns out that the way the group was run that year is the best way for our school.
My advice is to jump in and help - but offer advice sparingly until you really get the inside scoop. When I first joined our PTO, I was astonished to discover that they only hold 2 general meetings a year and that the Board made all decisions at its monthly meetings. Well, of course you need monthly general meetings!! At least I thought that then.
After I got familiar with this PTO, I found this system is actually the best for our school and works very well.
I also discovered that our PTO did a lot more than I realized (but they didn't do a very good job of documenting/promoting their accomplishments.)
I did get involved, and I did help enact some changes - including more stringent cash control processes and formalizing our organization.
Some things were right just as they were - despite my initial reaction. Some changes were really needed. And a few things (that didn't make sense to me) needed to remain unchanged for a year or so "because that's the way we do it" and it wouldn't have been good to abruptly sweep away all the history and ideas of the previous officers.
Overall, it was a good lesson for me not to jump in too quickly with assumptions.
They are lucky you have experience to offer and want to help. Just approach it with a willing, objective manner. You want to contribute to the organization, honoring its history, but helping to improve its operations for the future.
I'm a former PTO president, and over the summer, we moved to a new state. I'm shaking my head about the way they do things in this new place...wanting SO BADLY to stage a public lynching for this pto group.
Their problems:
--Low pta meeting attendance has prompted the pta to not hold a SINGLE pta meeting but to communicate through a newsletter once a week. Sound a little one-way to you?
--Fundraisers haven't been particularly successful in past years, so their single fundraiser was to work with local retailers to put together school supplies for each of the students and charge parents for it. We had no choice in whether or not to participate, and my first grade child's school supplies were $72. At my old school in a much more expensive place they cost $38. Sound a little costly to you?
--At this school, PTA is voluntary. If you join, you send in $25 and in exchange, you get a school directory. Yet there won't be any meetings, there are no fundraisers, and the PTA's only activity is a one-page news blog once a week.
Can someone please tell me why they HAVE a PTA at the school where I'm sending my child?
Are any of you doing the same thing at your school? If so, can you tell me what would prompt you to take such measures?
