<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 4 kids:
I am also in MA. We have VERY LITTLE teacher involvement. In fact we try not to ask them for any time and rest assured, it is not,(with a very few exceptions), volunteered. I think it is a "working after hours " contract thing. On one hand I can understand that, but on the other it frustrates me. <hr></blockquote>

But that's exactly it... they wouldn't be working "on the clock". That's why it's called VOLUNTEERING! I mean, if they really don't care, then what are we even here for?

Hi..I've been reading this topic for awhile now And thought I would tell my oppinion on it. I have been leader of a new PTO for 15 months. For the first 11 my principal and i had many heated discussions over teacher involvement. i found it hard that they say they want involvement but yet run from our meetings, my principal ended up making it mandatory that we have a rep every month. The thing that came to mind every meeting was knowing that the teacher was there because they had to be.So I told my principal don't bother...if they come they come. Best thing we ever did!! Last fall we held our first fall fest in over 20 years and we had 8 teachers help out. For the holiday shop we had 17 help out, as projects come along I see them stepping up because they want to and they are beginning to believe in our efforts.They have helped out with bookfairs,fundraising and family nights...its not always the same ones. Our teachers went thru a era of very negative PTA and they truly did not want to deal with us when we came along...but as we grow it becomes very obvious that they truly do support us in many ways and that seat being filled at the meeting makes no difference. I learned that in our case it's a matter of trust that needed to be worked on. I make sure that every staff member gets the minutes (PTA never did) and they give input from there. I believe in time that we will have 90% of the staff supporting us....as for the others it's their lost!!

We are very fortunate that our Principal supports our PTA and requires that teachers attend the meetings. I've even heard teachers speaking to her telling them why they can't make it. But, a number of them can't make it sometimes because they have families that need to be somewhere or many of them are attending evening classes.

We also have banners for 3 classes that have the most parents come to our meetings. We have K-5 at our elementary and divide it up to the highest count in K-1, 2nd and 3rd, and 4th and 5th grades. Three classes get $10 cash to use how they want in their class.

We also have many programs. The kdgers perform twice in the year, the 5th graders perform, and we've also had a Sock Hop and Talent Show.

But, there those meetings that when their children aren't performing, hardly anyone shows up.

In our elementary school of 650 students, the principle has a policy in that teachers are required to contribute a certain amount of time to PTO events (not necessarily helping out with events but attending them). The "push" on this is somewhat invisible to PTO and parents, and taken care of through staff communcations. Our meetings are held during school hours and other than the principle we do not have teachers attending because they are in session. Every parent and teacher at the school is automatically a part of the PTO, and the teachers realize this. Although we'd love to see them more involved at events, they do support us by encouraging families to participate in events through individual class memos. They also help us with all flyer and newsletter distribution to students (they and parent aids in the classroom help stuff our weekly correspondence into student's backpacks), and they help us promote donation-type events in the classroom.

Our PTA meetings are usually well attended by parents and teachers alike. Maybe its because we hold their children hostage. We usually combine our General membership meetings with a student performance afterwards. our last meeting was held right after the 2nd grade parent/teacher conferences so the teachers were still in the building. We hold free raffles at the meetings, last time we gave away a school t-shirt, a beach towel, a framed picture and a beach chair - all donated items.

Our principle is on the executive board as a general member, we also have a teacher representative on the executive board and a teacher's aide just took over as treasurer. Some of our teachers are active in assisting, but many aren't. Either way is fine. They teach my kids, thats enough for me. I will do what I can to make their job easier.

I don't understand the idea of "paying" teachers to attend your monthly meetings! Our principal always attends our meetings - since she is on our Board as the 2nd VP - and our teacher representative attends as often as she can. Since we alternate meeting times between afternoons and evenings our teacher rep only attends the evening meetings. She brings news - both positive and negative - from the staff. We get staff volunteers for only a few of our events. I think more of our teachers should be attending some of our major annual events - like Spring Carnival or Family Fun Bingo Night - but few offer! I realize EVERYONE is busy....but we do give our teachers ALMOST anything they ask for.....I think they are spoiled! They don't even like us to use their rooms for our Carnival and scout meetings - but we do! I sometimes feel the teachers forget we, as taxpayers, have a right to the use of their classrooms! Okay, I'm done complaining! The whole idea of paying teachers to attend meetings just opened a "Pandora's Box" for me! [img]smile.gif[/img]