If it were my organization, I would address the issue by amending the by-laws. I personally think the organization has no business taking a position. You should instead be working to make sure voters are educated about the issue, and aware of opportunities to express their opinions and become involved.
"WAIT A SECOND!" I hear you yelling. "Don't we owe it to our kids to support issues that are in their best interest?" Maybe so, but don't be so sure that everybody will reach consensus about what is in the best interest. How will you feel when you discover that the PTO is officially supporting a position that you consider foolishness. How would you like to be the leader who misreads the consensus and finds themself accused of promoting their personal agenda?
Those doing the educating will be find it very difficult to not promote their personal view. You need to be vigilant to make sure they stick to the facts. "The school board has determined that we must either close the under-enrolled school or eliminate the elementary Spanish classes." "If you don't vote to close that school, then you are voting to deprive our kids of Spanish lessons next year." The first is probably acceptable -- even to the parent who doesn't value Spanish, but who does value that small enrollment school and who wonders what under-enrolled even means. The second would be considered crossing the line.
[This message has been edited by KC Swan (edited 10-18-2001).]
Don't let this get by the parents, they should have a say in a new building project. Is the town/city having open meetings about this project to inform the community? Why doesn't your pto send a survey of questions out to the school population that will be effected? They could then be submitted to the school board or city officials in charge of the new building project as the consensous of the school population effected.
Our by-laws state that our PTO can "take a position and disseminate the consensus of opinion." My question is, if our PTO would like to take a position on a new school building project, how would one go about doing so. The problem that I see is that we do not collect a membership fee (you are a member if you are a parent or guardian of a student). Therefore to get a consensus we would have to poll the entire school population. If there is any PTO that has been involved with a new school building project, would you please let me know how you went about doing this. Was it a positive experience or detrimental to your PTO? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.
