Okay today was a typical PTA president day. I arrived at school at 11:30 to calculate the latest fundraiser. While that was happening the school pictures came in. Handled that, went back to the fundraiser. Finished the fundraiser and realize the banks are closed. Take home money from fundraiser and picture profit. Stop at barnes and noble to purchase 20 books for tomorrow’s book club. They only have 10 copies. Call next nearest store and reserve another 8 (all they had) and will have to find another 2 copies at Borders. Realize that I have again scheduled my son’s allergy shot during a once every two week special event so call to reschedule. Now I am downloading software for another homework assignment and I either have to go out early tomorrow morning or tonight to get Danishes for the group that does my son’s event tomorrow. Life is never boring!
Archive for Uncategorized
Movie Day at School
It is very easy to plan a movie day if you have cooperative teachers. Pick a date and location in the school that holds the students. The easiest is to make popcorn and we have a large drink thermos. I put together a couple bags of ice, Ginger ale (about 6 2-liter bottles), any powdered juice mix you have to make punch. Have the movie run, feed them a little popcorn and punch and you are doing good. Anything that breaks up the every day tedium is appreciated.
What constitutes an emergency meeting
I have just returned from a lengthy “emergency” meeting of our city’s PTO council. This meeting was to discuss a draft of a document that will be discussed at the next BOE meeting. We were not suppose to have access to this document. It is impossible to have 10 or more people in a room and expect no one to leak the information. You also have to wonder how subterfuge makes your PTA looks to the BOE and how the BOE looks to the PTA using the same tactics? Is being sneaky the best way to achieve your agenda? At what time do you try to work out issues at a school basis? Is it better to work with your principal or against? As a PTA President you have to determine how to handle these issues. I prefer working with my principal. I honestly believe if you and your school administration don’t see eye to eye (or eye to chin) you should change schools. Nothing gets resolved if both parties don’t have mutual trust and/or respect for each other. It won’t work. PTA’s need to partner with the administration and work together towards at least one common goal. Once the respect is in place compromise will follow.
Outside programs
When looking for new programs to start at your school do not try to recreate something that already exists. Art museums should help with art program. Science museums should help with science. Always ask the programs for discounts, the worse they can say is no. The best thing a school can do is find other community groups to share on the effort. Either they have resources they can donate or grants they can share.
What time for the meeting?
I am always curious to see what time brings out the best turn out at a PTA event. During school limits it to stay at home moms, right after school limits it to mainly parents and later in the evening(after 5) limits you to working parents or extremely dedicated teachers. The hardest is when you wait until 6 pm and only 5 people come. What works for your school?
PTA Position Descriptions
Everyone likes to know what they are getting into when they volunteer. Here are some examples of the positions that I have designed.
How do I get people to my PTA meeting?
Okay, I am going to start with some basic PTA knowledge. If you feed them, they will come. That is the theory and at times it works but I personally believe that they can not come if they didn’t know about, even if there is food. Our school district just got hooked up to a program that is called “ConnectEd” and it is great. It sends a pre-recorded phone call to all of the numbers listed on your child’s contact information. Some parents find it VERY annoying BUT they did get the information even though they felt like it was under duress. Every school has different ways to communicate. We have also gone the “kill a tree” route which we make a ton of copies and send them home in the backpack. I would believe that it was effective except for the fact that the playground after school looked like it was attacked by whatever distinctive color we chose that month. Phone trees work and of course the ever great email. I suggest you try a couple routes until you find one that works. I think communication is the key to making any PTA a success.
