I am the PTO Secretary for our school and found when I took it over, no one it seemed had read the news. I decided to make it eye-catching with a different font for each article and a graphic to match the topic being talked about. Not all the articles have graphics, but if you place them around the page, you will find people stop to look at your pictures and then want to read on to the story. I have had terrific comments on the newsletter and the meeting turn-outs have been much greater. I know it is working! And the principal always commends me, each month. Besides, it is just FUN!!
luvmykids,
your exactly right. We tried to order paper from
school. Answer we got: It's the same cost as the office supply store. And by-the-time they order we just don't know when it comes in. To make it easier just buy it ourselves. And yes, we have to make sure we don't interfer while making copies we don't interrupt the teachers that are trying to do that. So, we go have our copies made a local store cost $70.00. Who pays PTO.
I don't think that the school would like it one bit if we $630.00 (that just the newsletter copying) from their budget that we give them so we could do our copying for our newsletter or any other item that needs to go home. Schools need to realize we are trying to work with them not against them. Thanks for the input. The only other option is to leave the newsletter at school and let a paid school district person make the copies at their leisure as long as we have it by our deadline to go home. That would be another option. Copy 100 copies in the AM and 100 in PM after lunch. times 3 days and wahlah it's done.
Save $630.00/yr. and it's back into the school budget. Thanks for lettering me get that off my chest.
I just want to add to 2boysmom about paper and running tha copies at school....BEFORE you do this please get in writing with school admin. that you can do this and agree about time (when you can use the machine) how many copies and whatever else you want to put into writing. Lesson I learned the hard way! We are able to order our paper from the district for $3.50 a 500 sheet ream through the school (we also picked a color that is OUR color) and have in writing that our copies are made at school at no cost to us BUT the school's staff makes the copies for us because we are not insured/allowed to make copies. (that I'm not clear on but works for me!) This fall (2001-02) a new staff member wanted top charge us 5 cents a copy for the use of the machines but because I had a signed agreement with the former Prez and Principal the new staff member dropped the issue.....otherwise I will miss doing the newsletter next year (sort of!! ) [img]smile.gif[/img]
I love the website idea; at our school only school administrators are allowed to publish on any website for the school. So PTO cannot have our own website. So, I am very dissappointed in that but since I am a parent that does have access I think it's a great idea to go via internet one thing to remember some people do have internet access at work as well. Another idea they could check website when they visit the local library. As far a paid subscription I don't think that's a good way to go. If your school already charges a membership fee then another fee for getting a newsletter. Then again you can't just hand it out to members only because then you would be labled as a "clique" and that's not good either. Do a survey and found out what per cent of your parents have website access. Or do they prefer a paper newsletter. These are two options to look at. Our PTO pays for our own paper we don't use the school paper at all. Cost of ream of 500 sheets is about $7.99 if purchasing color paper. Then use the school copier to make copies at no charge. I hope this helps you out to decide.
Our school just set up their web site. We will be posting all the PTO activities on the web, as well as minutes to our meetings, treasurers reports, and opportunities for parents to volunteer. Our school community is having a number of budget cuts, and this was the least expensive way for us to keep parents informed. The school district is discouraging individual schools from sending out paper copies of the newsletter ( as a cost-cutting measure). I am concerned about parents who may not have access to the internet. Our principal suggested we have an optional subscription to cover printing/mailing costs. We are a middle school, so it is tough to send things home with kids. Is anyone else putting their newsletter on the web?
