PTO Today

Ran across this article about membership in Iowa’s PTA groups and  the interesting discussion that follows. Good look at trends in Iowa state PTA membership (down to 13,000 members from 24,000 15 years ago).

Author, though, makes the classic mistake of equating lower PTA membership with less parent involvement in Iowa, when lower PTA membership really just means lower PTA membership. Odds are that a huge chunk of that decline is groups leaving the PTA to form independent PTOs. When that happens, involvement isn’t less; it just has a different name.

Also worth taking a read of the comments section. Good insight there as to what you’re up against (and how groups are often perceived) in trying to engage more parents. Is your group viewed as a clique? The answer to that question I actually wrote a column on this clique topic a couple of years back.

In our last post Tim talked about the importance of planning out your entire year. Good stuff. Once you have that down, consider thinking about long-term planning for your PTO group. Hot off the “press” is a new article about how to create long-term plans without the headaches. Read that for some practical tips, then check out our new Sample PTO Strategic Plan.

Summer is a great time for thinking about what you want to accomplish this year. It’s important not to get stuck in the brainstorming process, though. If you want your vision to become reality, it’s important to plan. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Plan out your entire year. Write down all the activities, programs, fundraisers, etc. that you hope to run. Include when they’ll start and when they’ll end. Think about how much each one will cost (or raise), and think about how many volunteers you’ll need for each. You want to make sure that you have a balanced year, that you aren’t caught off guard, and that you have the resources you need at the time you need them. And by the way, it’s OK to change your plan along the way. Starting with a road map makes picking a new route a lot easier.

Plan to build involvement. How will you attract the volunteers you need and the participation you’re hoping for? Getting people connected to the school and to your group through family events and low-key activities is an important first step. Make sure a big part of your plan for the year focuses on building involvement. The better you do that, the easier everything else will become.

Use our tools. We have lots of free planning tools on ptotoday.com. Finances are not a sexy topic, but we have two terrific articles
that walk you through the basics of creating a budget for the year and figuring a budget for a specific event, even if it’s one you’ve
never run before. Our 2 Hour Power volunteer pledge program has proved to be a successful way to build involvement all year long. And ”9-Stress Busting Organization Tips” offers a nice list of objectives to make your year a success.

Your First Impression

What will be the first communication parents receive from your PTO this fall? What impression will it give? What spirit will it convey?

That’s my question for you this week, as I think it’s one of those things that can make or break a whole year of PTOing. Will parents get the sense that your group has its act together and is serious about doing really good work (in a fun, organized manner)? Will they get the sense that you’re all about serving the school and serving parents and creating community? Will the tone be upbeat and optimistic and appreciative?

Or will the first impression be you asking for money? Or you asking for anything? Will you come across as somewhat disorganized or even pessimistic?

If it’s the latter, trust me, you won’t be the only group — and yes, I know how busy you are and how little help you may have. But that’s a recipe for a whole year of struggle. Folks won’t say it right to you, but people are attracted to fun and put-together and welcoming groups. And they generally stay away from those people or groups that make them feel put-upon or that come across as scolding or needy. Is it right? No — parents should get more involved because it’s the right thing to do. But the reality is that more parents get involved when you as a parent group make that involvement more attractive.

Your first impression can go a long way to making it so. We have a ton of good content on communications and first impressions. And check out this list of 38 ways to start the year right.

This time the stealing from the PTA was done by a couple! Ugh. When the parents at Erdenheim Elementary School in Erdenheim, PA, decided to switch from a PTA to PTO an audit was done and numbers just weren’t adding up… to the tune of $17,000! Ouch. Unfortunately, this group learned the hard way about the importance of fiscal controls in PTOs and PTAs.

Grrrrr….. this goes in the same category as the recent discussion on restricting PTO fliers and categorizing them the same as fliers from outside community groups.  This Pennsylvania district is considering charging outside groups for use of school facilities.  I understands the budget pressures that lead to that conclusion.

But, ummmm, PTOs are not outside groups.  Are they going to charge English teachers for use of the classrooms, too?  The local sports league, the Girl Scouts — yup, those are outside groups.  But an active, effective parent group focused on building parent involvement and community and supporting the school is a key part of a great school.  It’s foundational, not extra… and certainly not “outside”.  Double grrr.

This heated debate about a PTOs role in a local education vote from a Connecticut website is interesting on several levels.

First, it’s a real look into the passions that are so much a part of local politics, especially around schools. I give credits to both sides here for their engagement.  Much better than the opposite (apathy).

But the debate captures very well what almost inevitably happens when the local PTO or PTA gets actively involved on one side or the other of a political issue. Politics by definition are divisive.  And groups that take political stands need to do so expecting acrimony.

The PTO critic in the linked debate captures the danger:

I did not know that my children were being used to raise money for an organization that can advocate for anything. I would be happy to have my kids raise money for the WEF, since they have it in their by-laws that they can not advocate for any political issue. Whether we like it or not, and I don’t, this has become a political issue.

I’ve been saying for a long time that the vast majority of parents/members of local PTOs and PTAs don’t think of the parent group as a political organization. They think of it as a parent involvement and community-building and support organization.  This debate captures that fairly well.

For the record, I don’t have a problem with this Connecticut PTO.  Sounds like they have a very active, successful group and they were above board in their work here.  We’ve worked with many groups (PTAs obviosulsy and also many PTOs) who do feel like politics is part of their function, especially on school issues.

But it’s my observation that political work and “grow community/build involvement at school” goials are often in direct conflict with one another.  Good for PTOs to be fully aware of that before heading down the political path. 

What was once a very minor annoyance is becoming a more common challenge for many PTOs and PTAs. We’ve tracked several communities where school parent-teacher groups (PTOs and PTAs) have been banned from using the backpack express to communicate with parents.  I’ll explain below, but cutting to the chase — this is horrible policy that does harm to schools.  And it doesn’t have to be this way.  Nuance and a backbone are both wonderful things.

For background, here’s a post on our message boards about this topic.  And here’s a story from Minnesota about one school board making this poor decision.  And a follow-up from same paper on the after-effects to date.

The real failing here is equating the local school PTO with the local karate school or the Church down the street from the school. That’s hogwash.

(more…)

Yup, in the world of what PTOs and PTAs can and can’t do in the political realm, this one is definitely a no-no.  Neither schools nor any 501c3 non-profit is allowed to specifically endorse candidates for public office.  This Idaho group did and is now on the hot seat.

As an FYI, it *is* OK for a non-profit to be involved with politics, but only in approved ways.  Example:  it is OK for a non-profit to try to help educate voters on an issue.  Additionally, OK for a non-profit to hold, say,  a “meet the candidates” night.  Big difference, too, between supporting a particular candidate and supporting a cause.  OK, for example, for the cancer society, to advocate for more cancer research funding.  Wouldn’t be OK for cancer society to promote a particular candidate by name, even if that candidate was loudly for increased research funding.  Subtle but key difference.

Trouble (legal trouble or just ill will within a group) often starts when school staff or district officials push the parent groups to endorse a bond levy or tax override vote.  Has your group been in this position? 

Wow — this is the harshest sentence we’ve seen yet for a PTO or PTA embezzle case.  This Arkansas treasurer convicted of taking $23,000 (and that’s just what they can prove).

We do like the fact that this case was prosecuted and taken seriously. Too often, groups or schools try to sweep these cases under the rug or prosecutors downplay the damage.  Make no mistake — this is stealing from kids and violating a trust.  There’s also often even further damage to the support and involvement at a a particular school for years.

More than worth it to use smart, basic money hanbling procedures.  And to get insured.