Hello All:

I have been reading the message board here, and I just have a few questions, and would welcome any ideas or suggestions on how to begin.

Here is my story:

My son just started 1st grade. I was shocked to find that there wasn't a parent organization for his school! I contacted teachers regarding this, and was asked to "throw something together". Well, I need some serious ideas. Something simple to start out with, and also some more complex ideas.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thank you so much!

Cerra :eek: cerra@hotmail.com

I will be watching this one closely! There are "ways its been done in the past" in our area, but I'm new to PTO board life, and this is for a brand new school set to open in the fall. I'd like it not to be business as usual and am trying to get people involved who haven't been before so it's not the same old same old, while still relying on the experience of those people to guide us in the right direction, if that makes any sense.

From what I've learned in the one and only month I've been doing this - put together a preliminary budget of items you won't have a choice but to pay for - insurance would be # 1 on my list. Then list realistically what fundraisers you might have and how much money they would bring in. Our district has a guideline stating how many fundraisers over $1,000 each PTO can coordinate. The district might be a good place to start.

Like I said, I'm as green as you are, so we'll get through it together.

Hi Guys -

A bit early yet, but this topic is begging for a little preview of something we're working on.

If you can wait 'til Summer, PTO Today will have a detailed start-up kit available for you. Along with that will be the availability of a group insurance discount and more. Should be a nice help.

Many more details on the way...

Tim

I'm in a similar boat, we're an International School that has had both good and okay PTO organizations, but no real "set up". I've been asked to be the Pres (eeeek!) and need some fresh ideas to add to the old ones. Our problem is family involvement. Any ideas????

Hi Cerra,

I don't know if this will help but our K-6 Elementary started a PTO this past October, so I think I know where your coming from.

We were lucky that our school started the year with a new principal and she was the one who rounded up interested parents to get the ball rolling.

The 1st thing we did was apply for a federal EIN number and with that set up a PTO checking account. Next, we sent home a flyer announcing the PTO, our goals, contact information, and a request for donations to offset start up costs. (Everything the PTO sends home is printed on yellow paper for easy identification.) We did host a small craft night in December to help establish a PTO presence and hosted a refreshment table at the 1st Parent Teacher Conference. We put out a 'quarterly' newsletter and this march drafted our PTO bylaws. We held a candy fundraiser this spring that will allow us to celebrate teacher appreciation week, 6th grade graduation and a litte 'treat' for the entire school at the end of the year.

I think for our first year we've done okay. I am hoping that next fall we can get insurance, and tax exemption and improve our fundraising. (I'm big for pain free fundraising or at least as painless as possible!) We plan on: selling T-shirts and book bags, supporting field trips, providing all students with a 'start of the year' supply package, so we are trying.

I have found this site just very, very helpful, I've printed out articles and posts that I keep in a folder to refer to. I have to say that a lot of JHB's posts, especially concerning EIN numbers, and tax exemption, have been almost a bible.

Good luck!

We've completed our by-laws with the exception of dissolution or redistricting which we will be adding(thanks to some insight from this forum). We are still wondering if we need to present the by-laws for general vote or if the executive board can do this. We are approaching the end of the school year and it will be difficult (if not impossible) to get a general meeting pulled together. Suggestions anyone??