You may not have many showing up to meetings. However, if you have a website, post the minutes to your meetings on the web. That way parents can keep updated by reading them on line. Although we have the same crew month after month, our volunteers have increased since we have tried to open the lines of communication to the parents. Our bulletin board at the front entrance to the school gives a lot of info, we post pictures of our events, contact info, etc. So parents feel that the PTO is always welcoming them to participate and get involved.
Try to communicate your agenda prior to the meeting so parents know what you are going to talk about. If its an issue that they are interested in, they may show up. We obtained a few new parents by doing that since we were discussing our playground expansion project. They heard the other business we discussed and project planning and have shown up ever since!
Don't be discouraged by your turnout to your meetings as long as you have them there for your events.
Making a positive difference one project at a time <img src=images/smilies/smile.gif>
When doing parent surveys - we found offering an incentive to the child really increased participation. Drawings are often good - ideally with multiple winners. We frequently had a jar in the main office for whatever drawing was going on.
When the kid hands in the survey, give them a blank ticket. They write their name and teacher on the ticket and either put it in the jar themselves, or the teacher collects them and sends them down with the student who takes the attendance roster.
We also did this when taking donations - for example snacks for the field day items for the class basket being created for silent auction. In those cases the teacher had the discretion. If they bring 10 tiny items, do they get 10 tickets? If they bring a really great item, do they get more than one? We left it up to the teacher, depending on the event.
But it was one more way to engage the kids and get them to remember to bring things in from home such as surveys or forms or donations.
I was going to have it so it was already SA in a SE to keep it anonymous. At this point, I just want to get the survey put together. I think I'm going to make it a high priority at our board meeting next month.
I'll look through the threads some more to see what information I can find.
Mama- We have the same 10 work every function. No one but the board, comes to the meetings. Out of over 500 families. In this day, 10% is not so bad but there are things you can do to try to make it better.
Check the threads here - there are some specifically about the issues you're facing. A survey going home over the summer may not be the best idea, because the chances of someone filling it out and saving it for 3 months it going to be slim.
We are starting next year with a big registration event - balloons, spirit wear, etc. Then we are having Boo-Hoo Breakfast to give us the opportunity to talk with the new KDG parents, and a big Back-To-School picnic. Our goal is to look enthusiastic and happy the first month of school and maybe it will carry over and bring some people in.
Please forgive me if I'm posting this in the wrong area... If I am, please point me in the right direction. thanks.
I am the Treasurer on our Home and School board and am very active in the school as well. But we have the same 15 parents that come out and help, the same 10 parents (not even 10%) that show up for our monthly H&S meetings. Out of 175 families.
I would like to send them an anonymous survey home over the summer to find what will make them come out to more events, come out to the H&S meetings (thinking about offering morning and evening meetings), what would they like to see done differently, etc. No one wants to speak up face to face, so I thought this may be the way to go.
Has anyone done this? Was is successful? Do you have a sample survey to share??
