Hi! Our school has started up a PTO. Our entire school (k-12) has only about 85 kids. I was nominated president and do not have a VP yet. We have already had 2 small fund raisers and several meetings. Each meeting we have only had 4 or 5 parents show up. In our community, it is extremely hard to get parents involved. When we have a family night, parents drop the kids off and leave. Does anyone have any suggestions of how I can get more parents involved with such a small community?

Your ratio is not too bad at meetings. We have that many, maybe, but have 625 students! I would rather have them help that worry about them coming to meetings. We have tried to emphasis that you don't have to come to meetings to be involved.

I would say that if you have 4 or 5 strongly involved parents, then you are doing pretty well for a school your size. Next, why not talk with these members and see if they can pursuade some of their friends, with children at the school, to get involved. Also, try to tap into the husbands of these 4 or 5. Usually the women who are active are merried to men with similar understanding, that school is the most important thing that your kids are doing right now. Maybe try to set up childcare for the meetings so the dads can attend as well. Turn it into a kind of "night out" as a couple, being involved in something that is important to you and yours...

Next, I would say try to appeal to the other parents at some event that they would be attending. Open House is usually perfect for this. Come up with some sort of presentation that can be running, that shows what your group does, or plans to do, talk about the statistics of being involved, etc. Even if you get just one extra volunteer it will be worth it.

Another great place is the new Kindregarten parents. Many are wanting to get involved, but are unsure how to do so. Reach out to them.

Good luck,
PresidentJim

For two years, we had 350 students and the only people who came to meetings were the 2 officers we had. This year I am thrilled to have built it up to four or five people. We have parents who can't make the meetings, but can be in charge of a certain project. The 2 hour power interest survey helped us find more parents like that.