Several of the Catholic Schools in our area have a mandatory volunteer policy. Some are required to volunteer a certain number of hours at the many events for money off their tuition, some it is already figured into tuition and some require a monetary drop into the basket at church each week with no volunteer requirement. I could look into some of them if would help you. Let me know.
I've seen this within private schools and organizations (for example our community swim team). But the times I've seen it were within organizations where the family made the choice to belong or attend. That provides some leverage to include a minimum amount of volunteering as a requirement for participating.
I've thought about this for public school. I think with the right approach and right mix of people you could achieve something similar. You could set up the expectation that each family help in certain ways, but you really wouldn't have any recourse for those who failed to help. But you could use recognition and positive rewards for those who did comply.
Of course, it would still boil down to being voluntary, but just setting the standard of expectations higher. It would take some time and effort, because you are basically developing an attitude or philosphy within your families. I think it's an interesting approach.
Mandatory volunteering? Isn't that an oxymoron? I don't think you can actually require someone to volunteer. I would let parents know that without more volunteers, programs may have to be forfeited.
My neice and nephew attend a local Catholic school, and they actually will supplement tuition with volunteer hours. For people who prefer to send their children to this school, but can't afford the entire tuition, they pay what they can, but must complete a certain number of work hours for the school and/or church. I know they got an awfully nice set of gym bleachers built for the cost of the material by some fathers whose children attend. Also, some parents work at the chuch funded thrift store. It works out quite well for them, especially now when the Archdiocese(sp?) is cutting funding way back due to the drop in enrollment.
My name is Margie Munsey, 2000-2001 past PTO president and school board member this year.
I have been assigned, by our principle, a job of head of a committee to find out if mandatory volunteering is acceptable OR CAN WE TELL FOLKS THEY HAVE TO VOLUNTEER. HOW MUCH CAN WE REQUIRE OF OUR PARENTS? We rely on volunteering from our parents to provide a special family environment, run various programs, help provide successful educational opportunity AND YES FOR FUNDRAISING - We generally put in our budget each year that the PTO will bring in at least $50,000. It has been our foundation. We have prided ourselves on that reputation and interestingly enough, it ranks high as to the reason parents choose our school. It remains our foundation - parental involvement in strengthing ties with each other.. Recently, with our busy lives, it is becoming more difficult to attract volunteers, although everyone loves the outcome. We rely on the same dozen volunteers over and over... Are other Catholic schools offering incentive to volunteering? (Such as lower tuition in exchange for service - I have heard of this, but our tuition is now at a minimal- to allow anyone who wants to come the opportunity - there is financial assistance, as well.HOW CAN CATHOLOC SCHOOLS AFFORD THIS?)
Are parents insulted - as some of ours seem to be lately, when asked to volunteer?
Some have said they would rather raise the tuition than fundraise. This defeats our purpose and would make us an elite school where if you have the money, you can attend. Again, what has made us so speial in the past is our diviserity, putting us all on equal grounds.
Is mandatory volunteering acceptable or can it be made into a bylaw? What are other CATHOLIC schools doing? Have you heard of "script" Someone suggested this method.
PLEASE help. I would desperately need the names and areas of school using these methods. (AND FROM PREVIOUS RESPONDERS) This is basically research I will have to present to schoolboard.
[ 12-07-2001: Message edited by: mmunsey ]
[ 12-07-2001: Message edited by: mmunsey ]DESPERATELY NEED FEEDBACK FOR RESEARCH
