We are a new elementary school also and this is our 2nd year. The principal formed our PTO by just asking parents that she knew (I was nominated as pres.) We are ending our 2nd year and its always been a verbal agreement to serve 2 years. Last year being our 1st we just done things day by day! I am not joking! It was my first year in public schools and the private school we attended didn't have PTO so myself and the other officers learned things together as they came up. This year at the beginning of school we had already scheduled our 3 fundraisers for the year and our carnival date. At open house we had a table set up of committees we wanted to create and ask parents to sign up (we formed 11 comm.). This year has been better but as I'm sure you already know, everyone has good intentions but it eventually dwindles down to only a few dedicated volunteers!! Next year myself and the other 3 officers have agreed to be committee chairmans and we will have our 4 officers and a PTO board (consisting of comm. chairpersons). We plan to meet once a month and have 4 PTO school wide meetings. By having a PTO board we hope to expand our circle and make other parents feel included. These meetings will be a time to vote on specific things and update everyone on what PTO is doing and planning to do. Since we are new, we are learning as we go. Good luck!
Will kids be coming from any other schools? If so - you will want to be sure to include everyone who is involved. If your current school is the only one then I would suggest asking if you can use the library/cafeteria or something for a meeting - send home a note to ALL of the families that will be going to the new school. While you have a core group of volunteers, you'd hate to see someone feel snubbed and then not help out when you're in dire need of volunteers later down the road. Chances are they will see who has done the leg work and it won't be a problem - but self-appointing, I don't think, is the way to get good footing for a start to a new year and new school. If there will be kids feeding from other schools - be sure that you let those parents know as well. Send flyers home in backpacks about meetings and any other way you can get the word out.
While we're on the topic - if the 40% of the student population is moving, have you asked the parent group at that school to assist with some seed money? It can't hurt to ask and, after all, those kids (if my math is right that's 384 kids or so) and their families worked to raise the money that's in that till.
Almost exactly one year ago I was sitting where you sit now - we drew kids to our new school from 4 existing elementaries and we asked the parent group of each PTO to help us get started. We asked for $5.00 per child - and we got more than we asked for from the school that sent us the most students. It really helped to be able to start out our PTO with money for things like printing, insurance, and just some start up stuff.
O.K. - now for your first fundraiser - ha ha - school supplies! The companies generally want the orders in before the end of this school year. If you can get cracking on that one right away it's a good start.
I'll quit writing the manual for you - and suggest that you use some of that seed money to join NPN because without them we would have been lost. Our Bible - so to speak. But if I can help further, let me know.
We have a new K-5 school opening this Fall. They will be moving about 40% of our current school population (based on boundaries) to the new school. Our current school has 960 kids.
We have a group and have met with the principal.
Would love any ideas that you have...things to think about...etc. I'm still finding core group memebers. Have idea of by-laws, non-profit info.
One question I have is how do we define ourselves now before school starts...as the board? Do we just serve the 1st year and then do a vote? Vote in September?
P.S. My only son is in 5th grade next year, so will only be there 1 year but want it to be good.
