PTO Today

Today our school Principal sent notice that the PTO and parent volunteers would no longer be welcome durring the school day. We can only go into the school before and after school after the students are gone. The Principal is citing cofedentiallity as the reason for barring parents from the school. I don't believe her decission is a district wide policy. How are the other city elementary schools addressing cofidentiallity issues? I bet they are not shuttinging their PTO and volunteers out of the school. I don't know if our Superintendent is supportive of the Principals dession. How can we address this road block without causing contraversy? Do we have rights as parents or are we defeated? Where can we look to for help and information?

We do not have thi issue at this time-- What would our teachers do if all the parent volunteers that they have come into their classroom to help on projects, make copies for them couldn't come in.

And does your principal not realize some parents work night jobs and can only come in during the day to do work-- or another would be after school you have your kids, during the day you don't-- so now you are asked to take away from your family time, homework time to come do things at the school-- ultimately it is your principals school and probably they have the power to say who can can who can't come in during school hours... maybe you can point out some of the things will will not be able to happen if parents arenot allowed to come in during the day. Maybe he/she didn't relize how much they need their parent volunteers to get things done. Good luck!

Sorry, but I would do the tough love thing on this one. We struggle to get volunteers as it is. Many events require us to be there during the school day to get prepared for after school activites. I would go to the school board on this one, then I would make a list of all of the things that the PTO does for the school and if he takes away your ability to do what you need to do...then remind him/her what their world looks like without the PTO in it. I would also remind them that there is no difference between having PTO parents in the halls during the day versus seeing the same children before and after school or at events. That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Those students need to see you there!! God bless on this one, but they are wrong. Fight the good fight.

Before I went to the school board I would attempt to schedule a sit down, one on one meeting with the Principal (after school hours of course ) to discuss the issue. Clearly stating that you feel there is more to this then what has been stated. Try to find out the real reasons (if there are any), explain what the students will miss out on if the PTO is banned and also remind her of the many reports and statistics that clearly state that kids do better in school when parents are involved.

If that doesn't change the decision or if more valid reasons can't be given then I would move on to the school board.

Almost makes me wonder if there isn't something else going on though that the principal is trying to protect the kids from in some fashion but is limited on her abilities to do so.... to protect from potentially one or two people she has made a sweeping policy.

casimirptomom-

I'm with BarbR- this sounds like an extreme measure to protect confidentialilty... maybe something else is up?! As she said, start with a sit down meeting with the principal to find out what's going on. Would suggest going armed with the list of what volunteers do at your school, as Dani & Foxmom suggested, and materials that support why it's it's so important to have parents involved in their kid's education. Here is one article from our site:
www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...what-to-tell-parents

If you google parent involvement you'll find countless articles about the huge impact it has has on student success. In fact, several states have designated a certain month as parent involvement month -- maybe your state is one of them. Wouldn't that be ironic?!

Here is an article that may help you prepare for your meeting with the principal.
www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...e-with-the-principal

If you don't get anywhere with this meeting, then would suggest setting up a similar meeting with the superintendent.... and if that doesn't work the school board.

Best of luck. Please keep us posted!

~Lisa

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