PTO Today

PTO/PTA is one of the hardest things I've ever done it seems. No one wants to be on it and I'm coming up against so many road blocks. I could use all the advice I can get.

1) My Principal alters our ideas into something we never intended. ie: Movie night. I pitched the idea and he wants it to be by grade so that if a parent has a second grader and a 4th grader one of them has to stay home if it's not their "grade night". He also wants us to charge a nominal fee. I don't really think that is family friendly and totally not what I planned.

2) We always did afterschool arts and crafts every two months. The parents loved it. The Principal brought in an afterschool program this month that has their own arts and crafts from 2:30 to 5:30pm. Leaving us no room (or students for that matter) for programs. The worst part is that instead of being fun it's only extended the children's work day.

3) Teacher's don't come to the meetings, don't participate in our fundraisers but are looking for a GRAND teacher's appreciation luncheon.

4) We usually have 1 winter magic show in the auditorium during lunches. We now have a dance theory instructor there EVERYDAY.

How do you get around this? How can I spend the children's money on THEM instead of the faculty?

MAybe you could work on some policy documents. Thee document might state some ranges, aa%-bb% must be used on direct student benefits only. cc%-dd% may be used on teachers needs. ee-ff% can be used as the PTO sees fit. I'd suggest you privately approach the active participants in the PTO to ask them what they think the %'s should be, including the principal. I would tell everyone that you don't want to share any individuals results and even request they not do so either so you can get everyone's untainted opinion Then summarize the data categorically. School employees and parents might be one way to group the data.

This way you help remove emotion.

You opinion should not be voiced! If you do, there will be a suspicion of bias.

You can them think up ways to close gaps if they are substantial.

You can also work to determine peoples flexibililty to accept change and compromise.

If you do a movie night you can not charge unless you do more than show a movie-- you are infringing on copy right issues-- make sure you let your principal know that.
It's always hard to come together--- but remember it's for the children- work on compromises to make it work... Good luck!

Yes, I also find it bizarre that he wants to charge for admission to a movie night...unless they plan to serve snacks and the funds go to a cause such as towards new classroom supplies...

refer to your Bylaws. what does it say? does it say he gets to change events and make all decisions?

1. I did movie night for all grades, what a nightmare. little kids sat like angels. 3rd, 4th, 5th graders ran around like monkeys! tell him Movie night is a "give back" to the community, not intended as a fundraiser, unless the profits are going towards of "support of education" (books, computers, supplies, etc)

2. have a "Spaghetti Dinner" then do crafts afterwards. then you can have it from 6 - 8pm

3. My principal has a teacher representative from each grade. if they want to submit a grant request, they must be present. give teacher prize incentives with donated items. promote your event with teacher participation with bonus bucks: $1 bonus bucks for every hour they attend an event. the $1 goes towards an auction at the end of the year for them to purchase stuff.

4. winter magic show - get your parents involved in a survey. ask the parents what they want to see. the class with the most surveys returned win a pizza party. then you have documentation of what parents want and don't then you are armed to give this info to him of what they want. if they want the magic show... have them come to a PTO meeting and vote on it!

good luck!
D

All our PTO events have to be after 6pm when school events are finished. We do not have issues now.
We charge $1 per family for movie nights and money is used for a specific reason stated in flyer.
We allow all ages and grades.
We do not allow parents to "drop off" kids. Parents must accompany them at all times. If it gets out of hand-(only happened once ever)we stop movie, ask parents to gain control of their children and until they do so, we will not start movie. Of course this is directed more @ the children. We remind them that school rules still apply! We are firm but try not to be pushy or bosy.
We sell snacks and drinks and candy also.
So far, all our movie nights have been successful under these conditions PS) The principal views are important and neccessary but, they do not have a final say in [U]how[/U] you do your event. As long as you are within your school boards reqiurements of well being and safety for the children as an example, PTO is not ran nor governed by a principal. You must respect his view and reorganize what your used to doing in a different day or time frame. Like i said, any time after 6pm is PTO time for our events. Check into seeing if principal can do same for your group?

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I would recommend rather than discussing certain ideas, such as movie night, at the meetings, instead form a committee and allow them to define what the event will be. That way they can "tell" the committee and the Principal what the plans are. Make sure they have all of the expected questions ready with an answer. So if after the details are explained and the Principal says, "I think it would be better if we did this separate by grade" your President or committee chair could explain that "Well, we discussed that idea and dismissed it because based on last year we believe we wouldn't have enough of a turnout" or "because we have to pay for the liscense per each event". Effectively tell him, while updating the committee, what will be done and when he tries to change it be ready to explain why you already discussed that change and decided not to go with it for whatever reason. Hopefully the Principal will accept your reasoning and let you move forward as you wish.

PresidentJim

Even if you don't charge, you still need a public license to show a movie.

you can go to http.//www.movlic.com to see what it would cost.

You have to have a license-- but check with your school district, since it's on school property--- most apply for one for the whole district for the year since they show movies during school time-- But the no charging for coming to watch the movie--is because if you charge there is enfringment issues-- you can not legally charge a free to watch a movie, unless you are paying loyalties back to the Movie production company....
We are small potatoes to the motion picture companies, but if they ever sued... it would be costly-- not worth it--- include a raffle ticket, free popcorn ticket or something-- this can be the reason for the cost to come in-- not the movie cost...