It stinks when you are short on volunteers, especially for such a great and well attended event. My only suggestion to you would be to send out a flyer letting people know that the Halloween party will be cancelled unless you can get enough volunteers. Put on the form all the volunteer opportunities that are available that night: set up, clean up, scary room, food, etc. in the hopes of getting some volunteers to fill out and return the form. I would send it out a few times. Ultimately in the end if you do not get enough volunteers it will be up to your board as to cancel or not.
Are you a public school?? Our school doesnt do hallowed eve events.......they cite 'religion' as the reason and separation of church and state....the holiday is pagan of course but no matter to them I guess.
Our school halloween party is the highest attended, most anticipated event at our school. For the past two years the attendance has climbed to 500! We're a K-6 and we don't advertise outside of the school either. We've always had games, scary rooms for the kids to walk through, food, and a costume contest. With the party being held in half of the school (7 classrooms and gym), volunteers few and far between, the officers running scared at the thought of chairing it and working it, I think we need to downsize or try something new. The decorating, food, and clean up alone is a nightmare in itself! I want to keep it fun and and exciting and don't want to disappoint the kids. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated it!