WOW! What great support and advice. I have even taken some notes! Thanks for the post.
We have a small school too. When starting a PTO, it can seem very disorganized because many of the workers may not know exactly what to do. This website is a good resource to grow. I recommend going to school board meetings. If you attend the board meetings by yourself, it might be better in the beginning. This way, you can find out more information about what is going on with the school without any negative influence from anyone. Then you can come back to the PTO group with more insight on the direction that the organization will need to go based on the board meeting. Good luck.
1. You say you recently began attending PTO meetings. What brought you to the meeting? Can you use that to encourage more parents to attend? Something compelled you to go. Perhaps you can find that same drive in other parents to help increase involvement. That can do wonders for a small, struggling group.
How are members 'defined' by your group? Are all parents considered members? Is there currently no definition? If the group doesn't define membership, parents may feel excluded.
You have choices: Charge dues and those who pay are members; or don't charge dues and consider all parents and staff members.
Realize that many parents may not even know your school has a PTO. If the group is as small as you say, parents may just be unaware of them. Help spread the word to increase involvement. Maybe even make a 'joke' of it in the newsletter and posters around school with a "Did you know...?" campaign. Or shroud them in mystery and encourage parents to attend a meeting to learn about the "Best Kept Secret at XYZ School". Make it fun!
2. No elected officer or bylaws? OK, yes, Kelly is right that they should have some. Work with the active parent you mention, offer your services to lead a bylaws committee, include the existing members in the process and develop them together. You can find examples of bylaws here at PTO Today and/or come to the boards with specific questions.
3. The principal herself is basically the presiding officer of the group if she is the one leading their activities. Include the principal in the bylaws process, respect her input, be sure to include her on the board as an adviser or voting member if she prefers that.
4. They're working for the teachers' needs instead of the students'? Many parent groups feel that meeting the teachers' needs meets the students' needs as anything that improves the classroom benefits the students. Also, if funds are very limited then they have to do the most they can with the least amount of money. If there are specific needs, such as field trips, school supplies, PTO funded family activities and such that you feel are more important, that's fine too. Once the group becomes more organized, increases membership and, hopefully raises more funds, your group can do more across the board to benefit everyone.
I congratulate you on your desire to be more involved in your school and community. All of the kids will benefit from your efforts. As you help your group go through the process of organization, be sure to come back here. You'll find lots of friends and tons of advice!
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the true perfection of one's character."
You can do a PTO or a PTA. Research both...PTA you pay someone else, but they will help you. PTO...do it yourself. Get a copy of bylaws and change them for yourself. Then, elect officers. Organize a nominating committee to elect committee chairs. If you need any documents, email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I just started attending PTO meetings. The school is very small and the PTO is also small and disorganized. We have no elected officers, no bylaws that I am aware of, etc., etc. The principal seems to coordinate what little organization occurs and the focus so far has truly seemed to be getting the teachers what they want rather than what the students need. In talking with the one parent who seems to take the most active role, we are interested in developing a more organized and stronger PTO. Any advice on resources and how to go about strengthening the PTO would be appreciated.
