I'm from a small town & attended a small town school. I know how most small towns feel about outsiders. I'm not bothered about it. My children love the school so I love the school. I'm over being upset about this. It is what it is.
start by volunteering in your child's classroom. Once teachers see you helping out the "word' will get to the "right" people and before you know it the PTO will be calling you for everything!! Stick with it and keep smiling, it took me two and half years before I even knew the school had a PTO.
I moved to a small town and didn't know anyone so I've delt with the outsider feelings. I found the small towners don't mean to keep anyone out it just happens because they are used to asking familiar faces to do familair jobs. Eight years later I'm loving the small town- stick with it.
They may not be responding because they are overwhelmed themselves. Maybe the activities they do are different than what other schools are doing. By all meas go to the board meeting. Most groups are in need of parents willing to volunteer and bring in new ideas. Ask if they have anyone in charge of parent communications, if not ask if you can be. As you have found out it is very important.
Just spoke w/ the Elem. School Admin Asst who has been w/ the school for 7 yrs. This school has had PTO established for only a couple years. She indicated PTO does not have a set meeting date (i.e. once a month). She was nice & took my information to pass onto the PTO President.
I asked her about volunteering; if the school encouraged....needed it, etc. She indicated they have 2 or 3 people that volunteer every now & then but that she didn't know how the teachers felt about it.
Now between u & me & everyone on this forum. THAT PRETTY MUCH SAYS IT ALL.
Every school that my children have attended has all but begged for parent volunteering/involvement. I will just keep trying & see how it goes.
They may not need volunteers....who knows.
Aside from your current efforts, I'd find a niche for volunteering and start there.
It shouldn't be so hard, but once you get your foot in the door, you are in a better position to assess how that particular set of people interact, look for ways to help, understand why status quo exists, what needs to change.
So find something that isn't necessary a PTO function and work your way in. Volunteer in the library, offer to chair Science fair, help organize track and field day...
